NRL Round 5 Matches on April 8-11, 2021

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Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights Predictions & Tips - Knights can keep it close in the NRL

Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights predictions for Saturday’s NRL game
The Round 5 clash is being played at 6am BST at Cbus Super Stadium
Newcastle Knights are 4-0 with the +10.5 handicap this season
I am backing the Knights with the handicap on the Gold Coast
Preview, predictions, stats & team news

Gold Coast Titans host Newcastle Knights in the NRL on Saturday (Getty Images)

Mat Marshall 08 Apr 2021

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Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights Predictions

Gold Coast Titans are heavy favourites here but I think the short price is misguided. I am backing Newcastle Knights with the +10.5 handicap.

Gold Coast Titans have won 7 of their last 9 games.
Gold Coast Titans have won their last 5 home games against Newcastle Knights.
Newcastle Knights have lost 4 of their last 6 games.

Head to Head

Newcastle Knights have a 12-11 advantage against Gold Coast Titans in 23 games.

Gold Coast Titans Form

Gold Coast started the season with a disappointing 19-6 defeat to the Warriors on the Central Coast. The Titans bounced back with a 28-16 win against the hapless Broncos.

Justin Holbrook’s side went back to back with a big win in Townsville. Gold Coast won 44-8 against the Cowboys after making 11 line breaks and scoring seven tries.

The Titans went down 20-4 against the Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday. They completed 68% of their sets for the second straight game.

Gold Coast Titans Injuries & Team News

Halfback Jamal Fogarty is expected to play despite a cork to his quad against Canberra.

Centre Brian Kelly has been named to start after suffering a broken hand last week.

Phillip Sami moves back to the wing with Anthony Don (hip injury) expected to miss at least a week.

Five-eighth Ash Taylor (hand) has been included as a reserve and could be a late addition to the 17.

Gold Coast Titans Line Up

1. AJ Brimson

2. Phillip Sami

3. Brian Kelly

4. Patrick Herbert

5. Corey Thompson

6. Tanah Boyd

7. Jamal Fogarty

8. Jarrod Wallace

9. Mitch Rein

10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

11. Kevin Proctor

12. David Fifita

13. Tyrone Peachey

Interchange

14. Moeaki Fotuaika

15. Sam Lisone

16. Jaimin Joliffe

17. Erin Clark

Reserves

18. Beau Fermor

19. Herman Ese'ese

20. Sam McIntyre

21. Ash Taylor

Newcastle Knights Form

Newcastle won their opening two games of the season. The Knights beat the Bulldogs 32-16 at home before a 20-16 win against the Warriors on the Central Coast.

Adam O'Brien’s side have lost their last two games, both at home.

Newcastle lost 24-20 against the Tigers after giving up a late try. The Knights lost 22-13 against the Dragons on Sunday.

They took the lead twice through tries to Gehamat Shibasaki and Josh King but couldn’t hold on after suffering a number of injuries.

Newcastle Knights Injuries & Team News

The Knights suffered a string of injuries in Sunday's loss to St George Illawarra.

Mitchell Pearce (pectoral) is out until rounds 14-16. Blake Green will start at halfback while Connor Watson has moved to five-eighth to replace Kurt Mann who won't play due to concussion protocols.

Tex Hoy (hamstring) is sidelined but fullback Kalyn Ponga has been named to return from a shoulder injury for his first match of 2021.

David Klemmer (knee) was a doubt but has been named at prop.

Jacob Saifiti (suspension) will miss the game with Edrick Lee (foot) out for another week.

Bradman Best (elbow), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) and Jirah Momoisea (Achilles) are all out indefinitely.

Chris Randall, Pasami Saulo and Brodie Jones are new names on the interchange bench.