3 minute read

Gold Coast will look to end a four game NRL slide and disappointing start to the season when they clash with the Roosters in Mackay.

Gold Coast can avenge a painful memory when they play the Sydney Roosters on Saturday but coach Justin Holbrook just wants to start a winning roll he's sure they're capable of.

The last time the Titans faced the Roosters was in their 2021 NRL finals elimination game, when they fell on the very last play of the game to end their season.

Unfortunately for Holbrook and his side that disappointment has carried over into 2022 as they sit 12th on the ladder with just two wins from eight games.

Not dwelling on recent results, Saturday's clash in Mackay looms an opportunity to find some form after several narrow losses this year, he said.

"We've just got to stick at it," said Holbrook.

"Plenty of other teams have shown you know, the Dragons have won three in-a-row, the Broncos three in-a-row.

"We're not a million miles off and we can turn those narrow games into some wins and get on a roll."

Holbrook has made one injury-forced change to his side that fell to Penrith at home with David Fifita out due to a grade 2 MCL sprain to his knee.

Will Smith and Toby Sexton remain in the halves for a second week after shifting AJ Brimson to fullback with the coach rapt with the danger Brimson poses in both roles.

"He's just such a dangerous player and and we need that at the minute," Holbrook said.

"He's equally as good in either position and it's best for us at the minute that that he's at fullback."

The eighth-placed Roosters will be buoyed by the returns of Daniel Tupou (suspension) and Paul Momirovski (illness) and wins in their last eight starts against the Titans.

But two losses on the trot have Roosters skipper James Tedesco adamant they need to bounce back.

"We obviously haven't been happy with our previous performances, been disappointing, two losses and we've sort of been in the game to last minute," he said.

"The key for us is to start the game, first 20 minutes, start really strong, put ourselves in a good position.

"We've worked on a lot this week and talked about how we want to play, just go to go out and execute now."