The Titans haven't beaten the Eels for over 6 years. Not since round 3, 2017 (26-14, at CBUS).
The Eels are on a record 7-game winning roll over the Titans. Our best current winning-streak against any club (next best is 6-straight against the Knights).
Will this continue or will the Titans cause an upset?
Even though the Titans are higher on the ladder (by two points) the Eels better for and against, and rightfully come into the game as favourites at $1.45 to $2.75.
Suncorp
This is the first time the Titans and the Eels have met at Suncorp.
Both have patchy records in recent years, here.
The Eels have won 5 of their last 10 here, the Titans 4 of their last 10, marginally worse.
And as it's the last game of Magic Round the ground may be worse-for-wear.
Both in the winners' circle
Both teams are coming off comeback wins but have struggled to gain any momentum - in a season full of unpredictability for most clubs, week-to-week.
The Eels came back into the winners' circle with a dominant 43-12 win (13 linebreaks) over the imploding Knights (61 missed tackles).
It was the Eels best performance of the year. They looked sizzling in the first half, and played a half of footy for once.
But, they failed to capitalize on a 30-6 half-time lead in part due to the errors and poorer completions in the second half.
- First half, Eels complete 15/20 (75%) with 5 errors
- Second half, Eels complete 14/23 (60%) with 11 errors
Meanwhile, the Fifita-inspired Titans also bounced back (from the R8 disaster against the Dolphins) to defeat an out-of-sorts Manly 26-10 at 4 Pines.
In comparison, we lost to a better-Manly at the same ground 30-34 a few weeks ago (R3).
Additionally, continuing the comparison theme, both teams were trounced by the Broncos in recent weeks.
In R7, the Titans were trounced 43-26 by the Broncos, whilst the following week in R8 it was the Eels' turn to get sliced up by the Broncos (in the first half at least) losing 26-16.
One wonders whether that suggests the margin between these two could be another close one?
The last two games (2022) were rollercoaster cliffhangers: 4 and 6-point margin wins to the Eels.
But the three games prior to that were all blowouts of 18-40 point margins to the Eels.
It's almost impossible to call.
Mid 40s high-scoring affair likely
A high-scoring affair is likely, based on the history of these two clubs from the get-go in 2007 (when Titans entered the competition).
Historically, games between these two are high-scoring affairs (averaging 43.4 points per game total) and the last 6 years has seen an average of over 45.4 points per game scored.
Though, the last two games (2022) were close 4 and 6 point affairs, but the three prior to that were blowouts in the Eels favour of between 18-40 point margins.
6-year cycles flip
The Eels are dominant over the last six years, whilst the Titans had their way the previous six years.
Eels dominant over last 6-years (Late 2017-now); Eels won 7/7 games
- Average scrore Eels 32 - 13.4 (av. 18.6 margin, 45.4 total score)
Titans dominant preceding 6-years before (2012- Early 2017); Titans won 7/9 games
- Average score Titans 30.8 - 18.3 (av. 12.50 margin, 49 total score)
Again we see mid to high 40s total score where defence and grind isn't at its highest expression.
Bottom Line
Both teams are yet to demonstrate they are a bonafide threat to the premiership nor build any momentum. They've both struggled defensively at times.
Nevertheless, the Eels should have more points in them and win if they're on.
But the Titans could make it awkward and pull off an upset in a likely high-scoring affair where defence is also likely to be optional at times.
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