Queensland bragging rights went to Gold Coast as Brisbane fullback Ben Barba was again left with little to crow about in the Titans’ 12-8 NRL win over the Broncos on Friday night.
For just the second time in 10 games – and first in two years – the Titans emerged triumphant over the Broncos to justify their top of the table billing in front of 20,524 fans at Cbus Super Stadium.
It was the same old story for an out of sorts Barba.
Gun shy after being peppered by high kicks all night, Barba’s night was summed up when he made the fatal mistake of letting yet another Albert Kelly bomb bounce near the uprights in the dying minutes.
Looking a shell of the man who won the 2012 Dally M Medal, a tentative Barba then tried to regather the ball only to be pickpocketed by Titans pivot Aidan Sezer who crashed over for the 73rd minute matchwinner.
Barba had claimed to have been comforted by a mid-week heart to heart with coach Anthony Griffin but will need much more counselling following yet another shocker.
He looked vulnerable under the high ball all night and what little confidence he had appeared shattered after he spilt a 16th minute Kelly bomb.
The Gold Coast had to claw their way back from an 8-0 deficit after Corey Parker extended Brisbane’s 6-0 halftime lead with a penalty goal when he copped a 43rd minute high shot from Paul Carter that was placed on report.
Brisbane celebrated again in the 60th minute but bench forward Todd Lowrie was deemed to be held up by the video referee.
Seconds later Titans fullback David Mead pounced on a Ben Hunt grubber and ran almost 100m to score before Sezer kicked a sideline conversion to cut the deficit to 8-6.
Brisbane got the upper hand in an absorbing first in the 30th minute.
Backrower Alex Glenn fed off halfback Hunt and broke the line before passing inside for the in-form No.7 to score.
Titans coach John Cartwright said he couldn’t explain why they were No.1 despite leading the league in errors, third worst in completion rates and having the fewest linebreaks and tackle busts heading into the derby.
“I don’t know but the players are working very hard and achieving something that can’t be seen on the stat sheet,” he said of the Titans.
“But I did wonder where our points were going to come from tonight. And with just one training session this week (after Sunday’s win over Melbourne) I was worried that we would run out of petrol.
“But Mead – not many can do that.”
The Titans will sweat on winger Anthony Don (finger) and Luke Bailey (ankle) ahead of next round’s clash with Penrith.
Meanwhile, Broncos coach Griffin labelled it a “bizarre game”.
“We did everything but win the game,” he said of Brisbane.
Asked if Barba was heartbroken, Griffin said: “I think we are all heartbroken at the moment.
“That’s the way things are rolling for him at the moment. But we still have a great attitude. We are just a side on the wrong side of the bounce of the ball.”
Menace
Guest
Another home town second half comeback on Friday night - shame!
Dallas
Guest
And you would think once Inglis is finished up Anthony Milford will be looking pretty good
Dallas
Guest
Boyd is one year older than mead mate. And Inglis is obviously next in line for the fullback spot.
Wrong
Guest
Why Silly? Dallas Taxes? Look at the 2 blokes you mention? thier day is near....its time to blood in new and youngs guns!
Kowalski
Guest
It's not where you grew up, it's where you have your first touch of rep footy.
Dallas
Guest
Silly call any way saying he is better than Boyd and Slater, very silly. Qlds 8 series win is based on loyalty, not from picking blokes who have played 3 good games in a position that there not familiar with and have barely played.
Dallas
Guest
Mate your kidding aren't ya? David Hala is very strong ball runner for his first 3 runs then after that he's f***** and that is why he isn't playing first grade, Ben Hanant may not have the same impact as Hala with the hit ups but he has a motor that doesn't stop, and I'm referring to defence more so than attack, your middle forwards front row and lock cannot afford to be unfit, lazy and unable to keep up with play, which is the why Hala doesn't play much first grade, he has a couple of strong runs and then he becomes a liability in defence, where as players like Maguire, Hanant, Kennedy and lowrie may not have the same impact in there hit ups but they have big motors and can play longer minutes.
djcooper
Roar Guru
Ba boom cross order. How helpful of you.
John
Guest
Well I can...a bit. The Titans at no point deserved to win that match. Their 2 tries happened by 'chance' rather than any actual good team play. The Broncos were by far the better team on the night. The Broncos defended much better this game than they did against the Eels / Dragons / Roosters. It's just a shame that their attack is so lacking. They never seem to have any set plays any more, it's just so predictable. Hunt's turning into a very good halfback, but he does seem to be playing a lone hand. Hoffman is a great ballrunner but he is no 5/8, his kicking game is poor and someone needs to teach him how to pass the ball once in a while! Re Barba, I think everyone needs to back off him for the moment - in attack he adds such much needed spark - have we already forgotten his perfect try-assist (the grubber kick for the outside backs) against the Bulldogs in round 1? True he hasn't returned the ball from the Broncos in-goal for a length of the field try, but seriously these days every team puts up massive spiral bombs and then swarm him in numbers - nobody, not Hoffman, Haynes, Slater, Millford or even Lockyer could escape. Re Hook leaving players on the bench - well I'm a bit perplexed by that tactic. Perhaps he's trying to put more game time into the legs of the players he does use, so that when origin comes around and we lose half the forward pack those that remain will be able to play more of the game.
Slain
Guest
Just saying that because ....I read sometime back, he (Mead) wants to play SOO for the QLD Maroons....
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
So did Greg Inglis,but Nth NSW is apparently a Queensland protectorate.
ken oldman
Guest
Having a fair knowledge of these growth areas I would say that Rockhampton and Mackay could only compete at Queensland Cup level as they do now with the Capras and the Cutters whilst Bundaberg and Toowoomba would both be non events Toowoomba once were a feeder club for the Broncos in the Queensland Cup and the fringe Broncos players hated to travel all that way to play footy and didn,t perform plus the local supporters hated the idea of thr Broncos "usuing" their team at the expense of local players so they didn,t turn up to the games...........eventually parting of the ways came and ultimately the Toowoomba club went broke A second team from Brisbane is the only solution ,which would put the local clubs competing in the Queensland Cup short of good players ala Broncos admission to the big time.....it didn.t worry the 'suits' at the time that the BRL folded and it won,t worry them this time either even then some quality imported players from overseas.and other NRL clubs will be needed to be competitive Yet I do admire your enthusium.
Dallas
Guest
Mead will be eligible for blues if anything , he grew up in northern nsw
Slain
Guest
@ kOOMS....I am pretty sure he (Mead) would be available and is eligible for a Maroon jumber....Adrian Lam and NEvil Costigan did it....he will certainly be considered...given the current form...Mead is ahead on Slater and Boyd for the number 1 job for the maroons
Bearfax
Guest
Take the game to where the public live. Toowoomba has a population of 130,000 + and there's a lot of people otherwise in the area. Brisbane is approaching 2 million people. Easily enough for a second side. Rockhampton/Bundaberg/Mackay has close to 250,000. Plenty of room for 3 more teams.and you'd get crowds who cant or dont attend other teams.
langerthebronco
Guest
Hook should try this line up. 1:Hoffman 2:Vidot 3:Reed 4:Hodges 5:Copeley 6:Hunt 7:Nikorima ( he can share the role with Barber) 8:McGiure 9:McCallough 10:Kennedy (he needs to start) 11:Gillete 12:Thaiday 13:Parker (he is a lock and a very good one) 14:Barber ( benching him will help shake him up to rediscover his missing xfactor) 15:Hala (this guy runs without any self preservation. 16:Wallace/Hanant 17:Lowrie
djcooper
Roar Guru
Agree with a lot of the points raised but I don't see the broncos main problem being the forwards. They roll up the field and manage to hold their own with opposing teams but in saying that we lack size and aggression which Kennedy doesn't provide. Hoffman at 6 is a big concern and Reed must be carrying shoulder injuries because he refuses to use them when tacking. Having 2 players on the bench that aren't used is a major tactical flaw (especially considering the potential of Oates and Hala (when he gets a chance)). Why wouldn't they throw Granville on the bench and give McCullough a breather for 10-15 each game!? Unfortunately I can't see the broncos improving whilst Griffin remains in charge.
chris
Guest
How can you add another QLD club when you can not get crowds for the 3 teams there.
The Kooms
Guest
He is a Kumul
Slain
Guest
How good is David Mead going at full back for the Titans? I understand he is eligble for Maroon selection... is she eligible?