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Some Preston Campbell magic saved the Gold Coast from an upset NRL opening round loss to the Warriors at Skilled Park on Sunday.
The pint-sized dynamo flew onto a short-ranged Nathan Friend grubber kick in the 70th minute for the match-winning try in the Titans 24-18 comeback win after they had trailed the Warriors 12-0 after 22 minutes.
But it was Campbell’s clever short kick off after Warriors winger Kevin Locke’s second try in the 26th minute that was a defining moment of the match.
Campbell’s kick travelled 11 metres before he swooped on the ball as the stunned Warriors watched.
The ploy rattled the defence enough for Friend to cash in with a short pass to rampaging young giant Joseph Tomane who crashed through big Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei to score.
Marquee signing Greg Bird failed to fire for his new club, turning in a nightmare debut in a game he would rather forget.
The Warriors led 12-0 after tries to wingers Manu Vatuvei and Locke off perfectly weighted kicks from five-eighth James Maloney in the left corner and halfback Brett Seymour in the right corner in the seventh and 22nd minutes.
Vatuvei leapt high over the back of young David Mead while Locke had an easier task with his opposite Kevin Gordon too far infield to defend the kick.
Gordon redeemed himself last in the game when Warriors fullback Lance Hohaia broke clear and kicked ahead.
Gordon came across field in time kick to ball out of play before Hohaia arrived on the scene.
The Warriors led 18-12 at half time after Titan’s forward Anthony Laffranchi was rewarded for a tireless first half with a try one minute before the break.
They could have so easily been down 24-6 but for some desperate defence a minute before Laffranchi crossed.
Warriors halves Brett Seymour and James Maloney played strongly in the first half before the Titans worked their way back into the game in the second half through their efforts of Friend, Prince, Ashley Harrison, Laffranchi and Brad Meyers.
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