Line-up change
THE Titans’ interim coaching duo Craig Hodges and Luke Burt have overhauled the playing squad for their home game against the Storm on Sunday.
Melbourne will rest four Origin stars for this round’s clash, including Cameron Munster, Josh Addo-Carr, Will Chambers and Felise Kaufusi.
Maroons star Christian Welch will also miss the Round 18 game through suspension for dangerous contact.
Gold Coast have made at least six changes to the side, including naming Newcastle recruit Sam Stone on the bench.
Stone will make his club debut at Cbus Super Stadium after joining Gold Coast midseason from the Knights.
Brenko Lee has also been added into the starting squad, named at centre in what will be his first appearance since Round 2. Dale Copley will shift to the wing and Anthony Don is out of the side.
Veteran fullback Michael Gordon has been cleared to return to the side after club doctors found a blood clot in his lower leg 10 weeks ago.
Leilani Latu is also expected to make his first NRL appearance for 2019 after Shannon Boyd was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
North Queensland have also been forced to make a change through injury for their match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Townsville.
Jordan Kahu has been sidelined for at least a month with scans revealing the 28-yearold has suffered an orbital floor fracture (eye socket).
His injury has paved the way for the 20-year-old Murray Taulagi to make his NRL debut on the wing for the Cowboys this round with Javid Bowen shifting into the centres.
Taulagi has endured a disrupted season after suffering a second knee injury which has restricted him to five games for feeder side the Townsville Blackhawks.