Warriors vs Titans NRL Round 1 betting tips – 13/3/2021

Warriors vs Titans betting preview

Two of last season’s more interesting stories will clash in the opening round of the 2021 NRL season when the New Zealand Warriors take on the Gold Coast Titans at Central Coast Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

This has traditionally been a game where the Titans have struggled to match the scoring power of the Warriors, but there is a new feel to the Gold Coast this year after a productive offseason. The Warriors have a better than 66% winning percentage across the history of this matchup, and they have even won on four straight occasions as the underdog.

The recruitment of David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for the Titans headlines what will be a ding-dong battle up front with Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake, who were two of the best middles in 2020 for their respective clubs and will headline a Warriors team looking to build on a promising campaign last season.

Is it too early to crown the Gold Coast Titans as genuine finals contenders? It feels a little premature to suggest they are the real deal, but this is absolutely a game they should win even if they didn’t have top eight expectations.

Key matchup: Ash Taylor vs Kodi Nikorima

The aforementioned forward battle will be what all footy fans look forward to in this clash, but the matchup that will decide this game is Ash Taylor vs Kodi Nikorima in the halves. Both are extremely talented players, but both have games where they look amazing and others were nothing goes right.

Nikorima’s playmaking on the edges improved in 2020, and he will no doubt be sniffing around for offloads in the middle too. If Fonua-Blake can win the battle up forward, Nikorima could wreak havoc.

Taylor was a big reason the Titans finished 2020 on a five-game winning streak, and if they get the chocolates here it will set a new club record for biggest winning streak. Taylor’s short kicking game has always been a highlight, but his running game could return on the back of a big forward pack. If it does, the Titans’ ceiling rises higher.

New Zealand Warriors betting info

Ken Maumalo out on the left wing is a proven first tryscorer and is very hard to ignore at $11 with NRL bookmakers. That the Warriors have won their last four games against the Titans as underdogs means the $2.20 head-to-head price is a fantastic option for a straight-up bet or in a same-game multi. The Warriors only won once at Central Coast Stadium last year by more than 13 points, so the 1-12 option at $3.50 is also juicy.

New Zealand Warriors

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. David Fusitu’a
3. Euan Aitken
4. Peta Hiku
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Chanel Harris-Tavita
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
11. Eliesa Katoa
12. Bayley Sironen
13. Tohu Harris
14. Jazz Tevaga
15. Ben Murdoch-Masila
16. Leeson Ah Mau
17. Bunty Afoa

Gold Coast Titans betting info

Euan Aitken had some defensive issues in the latter years of his stay at the Dragons, and Brian Kelly is a terrific strike player on the left side for the Titans. The $17 for Kelly to score first jumps out, as the Warriors will need to watch out for the left-foot step back on the inside. AJ Brimson finished 2020 as one of the form players of the competition and was impressive on his State of Origin debut, so snap up the $2.40 for him to score at anytime.

Gold Coast Titans

1. Alexander Brimson
2. Anthony Don
3. Brian Kelly
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Corey Thompson
6. Ashley Taylor
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Jarrod Wallace
9. Mitch Rein
10. Moeaki Fotuaika
11. Kevin Proctor
12. David Fifita
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Sam Lisone
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Erin Clark

Warriors vs Titans betting predictions

Many people think the Titans will win this one, but the upset looks the way to go. Go for the Warriors to win for the fifth time in a row as an underdog against the Gold Coast.

Warriors vs Titans same game multi

Warriors to win with AJ Brimson and Peta Hiku to score at anytime gives you a price of $16.75 at Sportsbet.com.au. Get on!