Dragons v Titans NRL R2 tips, odds & value bets – March 12, 2023

Round two of the 2023 NRL Premiership wraps up in Kogarah this Sunday with the St George Illawarra Dragons hosting the Gold Coast Titans at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. The Titans come into this match after an impressive first up win over the Tigers, while the Dragons make their season debut after the round one bye.

The Dragons are under the pump in 2023 before having taken the field as a number of off-field issues plague the club. As for the Titans, several up-and-coming stars, combined with the experience of Alexander Brimson and Kieran Foran, give the visiting side considerable upside.

The home side has won 17 of its 27 meetings with the Titans, including their last matchup, which was a 20-point win in favour of the ‘Red V’. However, this new-look Titans side features a premiership-winning five-eighth and hooker, which will make considerable improvements to their on-field performances. Look for the Titans, led by captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, to record their second win of the season, at $1.90 odds with Marantelli Bet.

David Fifita re-signed with the Titans during the week, ending speculation of his departure to the Broncos or Raiders. Fifita has benefited greatly from the addition of Foran to this side, which was evident in round one against the Tigers. Foran’s job is simple: put Fifita in positions where he can take advantage of a weakened, disjointed Dragons side that is one week behind the competition for playing time. Should Foran succeed with this, Fifita will be a great shout to score at any time during the match ($2.85).

Dry weather is predicted for Sydney on Sunday evening, which should make for scoring-friendly conditions. As this Gold Coast Titans side continues to spend time on the field, the combinations will continue to improve, creating more scoring opportunities. The Dragons will also get their chances with halfback Ben Hunt steering the side around the park and having strike centres Zac Lomax and Moses Suli on the edges. Look for this to be a high-scoring match that exceeds 40.5 total points ($1.90) as both sides show they still have issues to fix on the defensive end.

Key matchup: Tyrell Sloan v Alexander Brimson

Should this match boil down to a shootout, the influence of these two fullbacks will be pivotal. AJ Brimson is a gun ball-player who can sweep across both sides of the ruck and create scoring opportunities for his outside backs. Tyrell Sloan has got all the talent in the world; however, he is down on confidence and risks losing his place in first grade early in the season. Sloan will need to step up massively to help his side overcome the Titans at home.

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