Rugby League / Editor / 22 May 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external">Bet Now

There is nothing tougher in rugby league than an interstate road trip, writes Nick Tedeschi.

When the Gold Coast Titans travel to Sydney to take on the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval they are on a quest to defy recent history.

This season, teams forced to travel interstate are 11-30 at an appalling strike rate of 27%.

The record of teams traveling interstate covering the assigned handicap is worse with road teams a shocking 10-31 against the set spread.

Supporting teams traveling interstate is, seemingly, a rather expensive habit.

The Gold Coast Titans have been no exception to this trend. Since entering the competition in 2007, the Titans have won only three out of 13 when playing outside of Queensland.

This season, the Titans have been to New South Wales on three occasions, losing to both the Dragons and Newcastle.

Both those sides sit outside the top eight. The Titans' only interstate win came against the struggling Parramatta Eels.

Home ground advantage, in a traditional sense, may no longer exist (particularly for most Sydney teams) but the benefits of meeting an interstate team at home are immense.

Against a Wests Tigers team that has won three of its last four matches and ten of its last thirteen at Leichhardt Oval, the Titans appear to be up against it this Sunday, and they are sure to find plenty of backers in the market, both in match odds and to win half-time/full-time.

In spite of the criticism Tim Sheens leveled at his team after their 38-26 victory against Newcastle, the signs are good for the Tigers.

Star five-eighth Benji Marshall looks to be back to full fitness, having scored two tries and setting up another against the Knights. A fit Marshall is crucial to the Tigers attack.

Matthew Head is playing his best footy in years with the unlucky half recording a try assist in each of the five games he has played in. Despite having played in only five matches, Head ranks an impressive tenth in the NRL in try assists with eight.

Brett Hodgson has been outstanding at fullback. As a custodian, he has been extraordinarily safe. As an attacking option, he has been exceptionally dangerous with three tries and five try assists this season as well as six line-breaks and seven line-break assists.

Backrower Chris Heighington has also been terrific this season, averaging 128.9 metres (eighth among forwards in the NRL) and 30.1 tackles per match.

The hard working forward has also has recorded more tackle breaks than any other forward in the NRL this season with 46.

That kind of attacking potency makes the Tigers one of the most dangerous teams in the competition with the ball. It looks doubtful that a team who has allowed twenty-plus points in four of their last five matches will be able to shut the Tigers down.

With the Titans traveling interstate, all signs point to a comfortable Tigers victory in what could be a shootout of Wild West proportions.