Titans coach eager to end 2020 on a roll

For all the positives in Gold Coast mentor Justin Holbrook’s first NRL campaign as a head coach, he’s yet to string together consecutive wins at the Titans.

Last weekend’s stirring 14-10 win over St George Illawarra was the Titans’ fifth victory of 2020.

After each of their past four victories, however, the Titans haven’t been able to follow it up the weekend after with their last back-to-back wins coming between rounds 11 and 13 last year.

With four games to go this season, Holbrook has identified stringing consecutive wins together as the next step for the 13th-placed Titans.

“We’d love to get on a roll and keep winning games. We’ve got a good opportunity to play well and try and do that tomorrow over the Bulldogs,” he said.

“Would be great to get back-to-back wins, that’s for sure.”

Representative forward Jai Arrow looks set to make an earlier-than-expected return from a shoulder injury, after training strongly throughout the week.

Holbrook intends to play Arrow from the bench, with Tyrone Peachey set to start at lock after impressing in the position against the Dragons.

Veteran winger Anthony Don also looks set to return from a rib injury while Sam Lisone’s not guilty verdict at the judiciary earlier in the week clears the prop to make his 100th NRL appearance.

The Bulldogs have won just twice this year and need to find at least one win over the next four weeks if they’re to have any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.

Luke Thompson and Jake Averillo have both been named on the interchange bench after being rested for Sunday’s loss to Canberra with Sione Katoa and Dean Britt dropping out.

Despite their struggles, Holbrook is wary of a Bulldogs team he describes as desperate.

“I know where they sit but they’re a good side and they compete hard for 80 minutes,” Holbrook said.

“They got a really good first half against Canberra and fell away but then a couple weeks ago Wests Tigers led them 22-nil, they came back and only got beat by a point.

“We know they’ll be up for the clash tomorrow.”

KEY MATCH STATS

* Canterbury have won four of their past five matches against Gold Coast

* The Bulldogs will need to win at least one of their final four games to avoid becoming just the second team in the NRL era to finish a season with two wins or less.

* Gold Coast have lost 11 of 12 this season when conceding over 12 points, with the only win coming against Wests Tigers in Round 4.

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