NRL: Ropati on sidelines as Moon returns

Jerome Ropati. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors have Joel Moon back in their top side after concussion for their game on the Gold Coast but he is returned to the midfield, rather than five-eighth, coach Ivan Cleary sticking with the halves combination that won the last game against Newcastle.

Moon switches from the right side, where he played other games at centre, to the left and keeps Jerome Ropati out. Simon Mannering is back in the second row where he plays best.

Moon was cleared to play late in the week as the team prepared for the game against Newcastle and played with the Vulcans.

The team will sweat on the fitness of captain Steve Price after tonight's second State of Origin game. Jesse Royal and Russell Packer are both on the bench as fill-ins.

"We made some progress in our wins against Wests Tigers and the Knights, especially with our defence, and that was pleasing but we need to keep improving if we're to win consistently and that has to start now," Cleary said yesterday.

The squad will stay on the Gold Coast next week ahead of their game against the Broncos in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on July 3. They did the same for the back-to-back matches against Gold Coast and North Queensland in 2007, winning the first 22-6 and losing the second match in Townsville 18-12.

The home side will likely have five-eighth Mat Rogers and prop and co-captain Luke Bailey back after injury.

Rogers suffered a rib cartilage injury in the final minutes of the Titans' 28-24 victory over St George Illawarra and missed the late 24-20 win over the Roosters. "I feel like I've had a month off," Rogers said. "I couldn't wait to get back to training so the bye has worked. It's served its purpose."

He sat out contact work in the club's first hit-out after a six-day break and Bailey did not train at all but remains hopeful of being cleared after missing the last game with a small fracture in his arm.

Both teams come off the bye but with vastly different form prior to their break.

The Titans share the competition lead with the Dragons and Broncos, while the Warriors must win to keep any semblance of a successful season on their horizon.

* Warriors v Titans

Skilled Park, 7.30pm Saturday

Titans

Preston Campbell
Kevin Gordon
Esi Tonga
Brett Delaney
Chris Walker
Mat Rogers
Scott Prince (c)
Matthew White
Nathan Friend
Michael Henderson
Anthony Laffranchi
Brad Meyers
Ashley Harrison

Warriors

Wade McKinnon
Kevin Locke
Patrick Ah Van
Joel Moon
Manu Vatuvei
Lance Hohaia
Stacey Jones
Sam Rapira
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Lewis Brown
Micheal Luck

Interchange
Titans (from): Aaron Cannings, Will Matthews, Luke O'Dwyer, William Zillman, Josh Graham, Daniel Conn.
Warriors (from): Aaron Heremaia, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Jacob Lillyman, Russell Packer.