CommBank Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 1 NRL game between Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Parramatta Eels heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Parramatta Eels vs. Gold Coast Titans game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday March 13, 2022 at 4:05 pm

Where: CommBank Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans Odds

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans Preview

The general consensus is Parramatta’s premiership window is closing in 2022. The Eels won’t subscribe to that theory, but after three straight semi-final exits and with several stars on the move at the end of the year due to the salary cap squeeze, there’s a now-or-never feeling about Brad Arthur’s blue-and-golds’ otherwise compelling title credentials.

The Eels look a little thin out wide with Maika Sivo injured and Blake Ferguson leaving, but their elite depth elsewhere sees Nathan Brown and Bryce Cartwright demoted to the reserves – despite the unavailability of suspended Marata Niukore. Hooker Reed Mahoney is a welcome addition to a crack spine alongside Clint Gutherson, Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown after injury cut his 2021 campaign short a month out from the finals.

Gold Coast snapped a five-year finals drought last year in a vastly-improved season under the impressive Justin Holbrook. But optimism should be tempered by the fact the Titans scraped into eighth with a subpar 10-14 record, while they head into 2022 with an uber-talented but majorly inexperienced spine of Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson, Toby Sexton and Erin Clark.

A superbly constructed pack is the Titans’ obvious strength, which takes some pressure off the young playmakers, and there’s adequate strike out wide. The underrated Isaac Liu is a great addition and installing tyro Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as captain is a potential Holbrook masterstroke.

Parramatta is on a five-match winning run against Gold Coast, each victory coming by a margin of 16 points or more.

All things considered, this is a bona fide match-of-the-round contender. The more settled, experienced Eels are deserving favourites but the effervescent Titans can definitely push them close.

Content provided by Ladbrokes

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans Tip

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans Teams

Eels team:

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Sean Russell
3. Will Penisini
4. Waqa Blake
5. Bailey Simonsson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Junior Paulo
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Shaun Lane
12. Isaiah Papali’i
13. Ryan Matterson

14. Makahesi Makatoa
15. Oregon Kaufusi
16. Ray Stone
17. Jake Arthur

18. Nathan Brown
19. Bryce Cartwright
20. Mitch Rein
21. Tom Opacic
22. Hayze Perham
23. Wiremu Greig
24. Ky Rodwell

Titans team:

1. Jayden Campbell
2. Phillip Sami
3. Brian Kelly
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Corey Thompson
6. AJ Brimson
7. Toby Sexton
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Erin Clark
10. Isaac Liu
11. David Fifita
12. Beau Fermor
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

14. Will Smith
15. Sam Lisone
17. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Kevin Proctor

18. Jarrod Wallace
19. Tanah Boyd
20. Herman Ese’ese
21. Esan Marsters
22. Sam McIntyre
23. Paul Turner
24. Greg Marzhew