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Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright praised his side’s composure when a man down as critical in their emphatic 22-6 win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Leading 6-0 after 24 minutes at a rainy Leichhardt Oval, Titans forward Nate Myles was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a professional foul on Martin Taupau, who was attempting to link with a runaway Luke Brooks.
However, the visitors ended up banking eight points through a penalty goal to Greg Bird and a converted try from Anthony Don while conceding no points.
That was despite Tigers centre Tim Simona diving over for a try that was controversially denied after it was ruled Bodene Thompson had obstructed Aidan Sezer.
“I thought we played it very smart,” Cartwright said.
“It was really courageous to hold them out the way we did, and keep getting to the tackles.
“We controlled the game really well in that 10-minute period. We had most of the ball, we made sure we kept hold of the ball. We kicked really well.”
It was the Titans’ sixth win of the season in front of a crowd of 8929 to lift them to third on the ladder, equal on 12 points with table-topping Canterbury and Manly.
Hot-stepping Titans halfback Albert Kelly limped off in the 23rd minute with a left lower-leg injury after coming off second best in a collision with Adam Blair but he was later cleared of a fracture.
The Tigers smashed the Titans 42-12 in round two, but a repeat never looked likely in this fast-paced and physical affair that was the two teams’ first encounter at Leichhardt since 2008.
The Tigers were largely rudderless and sorely lacked the flair of injured captain Robbie Farah and fullback James Tedesco.
Aidan Sezer, who played through an ankle injury also caused by Blair, opened the Titans’ account in the seventh minute, scoring under the posts following one of two tremendous runs from Kelly before he was sidelined.
The five-eighth also converted Don’s try that came after Paul Carter charged down a Braith Anasta kick.
Down 10-0 at halftime, the Tigers responded when centre Tim Simona pounced on the ball in the corner after a Blake Austin kick ricocheted off Bird.
Simona was put on report five minutes later for a dangerous lifting tackle on Sezer while Carter was also put on report for high contact.
The Titans sealed the deal in the 53rd minute to pull ahead 22-6 thanks to a Bird four-pointer.
Gold Coast are learning to deal with life at the top of the NRL ladder after emerging as surprise premiership frontrunners in the first third of the season.
But Myles said the Titans aren’t concerned about the scrutiny or the pressure they are now under.
“It doesn’t really bother us to be honest,” he said.
“Tonight I thought our start was a lot better which is something we wanted to do.”
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