The Gold Coast Titans have snapped a two-game losing streak to defeat a hapless Warriors outfit 66-6 in front of a packed CBUS Super Stadium.
Statistically speaking this was one of the greatest ever wins in Titans history. By half-time they were up 30-0 which, according to the Fox Sports Lab, is their equal-best ever first half.
By full-time, this was the Titans’ highest scoring game ever. Prior to this game they’d never broken the 50 point barrier, with only the full time whistle stopping the Gold Coast’s attack.
MATCH CENTRE: Titans v Warriors, teams, score, stats, video
And while for large portions this was as comfortable a win any side has had in the last few years in the NRL, it could very well have been a different story had Beau Fermor not brilliantly stopped Marcelo Montoya from scoring in the seventh minute.
From that point on, it all went the Titans way. Granted, the Warriors did everything in their power to assist Des Hasler’s side; making silly errors, conceding soft penalties and looking pedestrian throughout the game.
But the Titans capitalised on every opportunity presented to them in a manner more accustomed to the competition’s top sides.
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Jayden Campbell kicked off what would be a career game in the 16th minute after he fired a wonderful cut out pass to Alofiana Khan-Pereira to open the game’s scoring.
Campbell would finish the game having shown the rugby league world he is well and truly a five-eighth. The Titans No.6 kicked well, threatened with his running game and killed the Warriors edges with his ball playing.
By full-time, the young half had one try, three try assists and 114 kick metres, with his 26 points the most scored by any Titans player in a single game.
Alongside him, Kieran Foran was brilliant. Not only did the halfback guide his side around the park like the 293-game veteran he is, he also toyed with and deceived the Warriors defence on countless occasions as if it were 2013 again.
“WHAT?!” – Shock RTS sin bin stuns Wahs | 00:42
It was through Foran that the game’s second try came, after the Titans halfback held the ball up perfectly before slipping a surging Fermor in to score.
From there the momentum was all the home side, who scored three tries before half-time to take a comprehensive lead into the interval.
On commentary, Fox League’s Matt Russell labelled this game “their (the Titans) best 40 minutes of the season (and) their best 40 minutes in a long, long time.”
In the second half it was much of the same, with the Titans repelling everything the Warriors threw at them.
Seven minutes after the break, the Warriors looked to be building some pressure only for Shaun Johnson’s pass to find Khan-Pereira, who streaked away to kick his side’s second half scoring up.
That play just about summed the game up. Every question the Warriors posed was answered by the Titans, with their defence just as strong as their attack – if that’s even possible.
One incident which may overshadow the comprehensive win was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s 53rd minute sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Jayden Campbell. The decision, viewed by many as dubious, did not help the Warriors – who needed all the help they could get.
A few tackles later, Keano Kini scored for his first try of the night after breaking through the Warriors’ left edge defence.
Kini finished with two tries, 10 tackle breaks and 223 running metres to give Des Hasler yet another fullback selection headache.
Four minutes after Kini’s try, the Titans halves combined after Foran chipped in behind the Warriors for Campbell, who grabbed a deserved try. Two minutes later Te Maire Martin scored a late consolation for the Warriors before the Titans finished as they started – scoring three times in the last 20 minutes.
Alongside Campbell, Foran and Kini, David Fifita was enormous in his return from an ankle injury. After running for 137 metres by half-time the powerful back rower finished with 203 metres and seven tackle breaks.
But to single out those four would be a disservice for the entire Titans side, who all performed exceptionally well in what will be a night to remember for the club.
For the Warriors, the less said about this one the better, with Matt Russell declaring it a “nightmare on the Glitter Strip” at fulltime.
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Source Agencies
