Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors Predictions: Visitors’ play-off push to continue

The New Zealand Warriors’ hopes of making another NRL Premiership finals appearance will be put to the test on Saturday when they travel to face the Gold Coast Titans at the Cbus Super Stadium (kick-off 06:00 BST, 15:00 local).

Andrew Webster’s Warriors have been starting to find some form in recent weeks but remain just outside the top eight. This week they face a Titans side currently propping up the standings. My Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors predictions will not include a major upset…

Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors Odds

The home-town Titans are 8/5 to collect only their fourth win of the 2024 season, with the Warriors heavy favourites at 8/15. You can get 20/1 on the Warriors being involved in another 80-minute draw.

Team News

David Fifita is back for the Titans, but Harley Smith-Shields (pec), A.J. Brimson (groin), Tony Francis (shoulder), Klese Haas (foot), Jaimin Jolliffe (pec) and Jojo Fifita (illness) are all unavailable. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is out for the season with a knee injury.

The Warriors are without the suspended Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, as well as ankle injury victims Ali Leiataua and Paul Roache. Rocco Berry’s shoulder problem and Luke Metcalf’s leg issue continue to rule them out. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back though.

Both teams are also hit by Origin selection ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2, with Moeaki Fotuaika missing from the Titans line-up due to his Queensland call-up and the Warriors going without Kurt Capewell and Mitch Barnett.

Warriors -12 @ 2/1 (Price Boost from 7/4)

The very nature of the NRL tells us that there’s no such thing as a dead cert, but the Warriors really need to pick up a win this week if they are to keep up the momentum in their play-off chase.

Webster had them absolutely flying from around this point last season and he will be keen to not let last Saturday’s home loss to the Melbourne Storm break their stride after three straight victories in the previous four weeks.

They ought to have too much strike around the park, even taking into account the suspension of Watene-Zeleniak, with Marcelo Montoya and Adam Pompey forming a dangerous edge. They also have try machine Addin Fonua-Blake leading the charge in the pack.

Betfred’s Price Boost means the Warriors are now 2/1 rather than 7/4 to win with a couple of scores to spare, which implies a 33.3% probability. That seems a great offer to me.

Warriors to win both halves @ 2/1

The Warriors ought to get ahead and stay ahead against one of the weakest teams in the Premiership, so it’s about finding the value in that assertion.

They are 21/20 to lead at half-time and full-time, so the 2/1 on them winning both halves looks the more appealing even if it depends on greater variables.

I’m happy to go with that bet in order to increase the potential returns, especially in light of the fact that the Warriors are no strangers to racking up the points when games really begin to open up.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.