Match Preview: NRL Round 27 vs Titans
Wests Tigers will look to finish their 2025 campaign on a high when they face the Gold Coast Titans in the final round of the regular season.
Match: Titans v Wests Tigers
Round 27 -
home Team
Titans
17th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
11th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Benji Marshall’s side has shown marked improvement this season and will be chasing a 10th win, a milestone the club hasn’t reached since 2019.
One of the key storylines for Saturday is the NRL debut of 18-year-old outside back Heamasi Makasini, who has earned a call-up on the wing.
The Campbelltown City Kangaroos junior becomes the latest Wests Tigers Pathways graduate to make the leap into first grade, replacing Jeral Skelton who is unavailable under concussion protocols.
Makasini has featured in four NSW Cup games for Western Suburbs this season, averaging over 100 metres per game and impressing with his power and athleticism.
Meanwhile, Alex Seyfarth returns from suspension on the interchange bench, pushing Charlie Murray to the reserves.
The Titans will also farewell two big names in front of their home fans.
Saturday marks the final NRL appearance for veteran playmaker Kieran Foran, who wraps up a stellar 17-year career.
Forward Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui also plays his last game for the club before heading to the English Super League.
Des Hasler’s team will unleash two debutants of their own, with Carter Gordon, the former Wallabies fly-half, and Queensland U19 rep Cooper Bai both named.
The hosts also welcome back Phil Sami on the wing, while Keano Kini starts at fullback for the first time since Round 3.
These two sides last clashed in Round 20 at Leichhardt Oval, with the Tigers edging out a 21-20 win thanks to a clutch field goal from Adam Doueihi.
Doueihi will miss this return match due to a facial fracture.
PlayUp Highlights: NRL Round 20 vs Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Brian KellyWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 AJ BrimsonCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Taylan May
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Centre for Titans is number 4 Carter GordonCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
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Winger for Titans is number 19 Jaylan De GrootWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Heamasi Makasini
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Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jayden CampbellHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Sam VerrillsHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
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Prop for Titans is number 10 Reagan Campbell-GillardProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
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2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Chris Randall2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
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2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Sione Fainu
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Lock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
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Interchange for Titans is number 14 Cooper BaiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Heath Mason
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Interchange for Titans is number 15 Klese HaasInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt
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Interchange for Titans is number 16 Iszac Fa'asuamaleauiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Josh PatstonInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar
Reserves
-
Replacement for Titans is number 22 Tony FrancisReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Tristan Hope
-
Reserve for Titans is number 18 Tukimihia SimpkinsReserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Charlie Murray
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Kit Laulilii
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Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Krystian Mapapalangi
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Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Charlie Staines
Titans Ins
- Carter Gordon
- Tukimihia Simpkins
Wests Tigers Ins
- Alex Seyfarth
- Charlie Staines
- Heamasi Makasini
- Kit Laulilii
- Krystian Mapapalangi
Titans Outs
- Jojo Fifita
Wests Tigers Ins
- Jeral Skelton
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Fast Facts:
- The Titans have won five of their past seven games against the Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have not defeated the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium since 2017.
- The Titans have conceded 122 points in their past three games.
- Wests Tigers can claim their 10th win of the season for the first time in six years.
- Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored seven tries in his last six games against Wests Tigers.
Stats supplied by NRL historian/statistician David Middleton.
