Gold Coast Titans 28
St George Illawarra Dragons 26
The Dragons started off in style against the Titans with Mitch Rein opening the scoring three minutes into the game after darting out of dummy half. A penalty goal stretched the Dragons’ lead to eight points before Agnatius Paasi scored for the Titans just minutes after Kane Elgey was denied.
Mike Cooper went over soon after, with David Taylor following by barging through the line. Marshall put the Dragons’ in front by eight points at the break after going through the line. The Titans’ were lucky not to have a bigger deficit after Widdop missed a penalty goal from 50m out on the siren.
David Mead was seen soaring through the air before crashing back down to score early in the second half. He scored another soon after, with Mortimer kicking for the Papua New Guinean flyer to score on the sideline.
The Titans stole the lead but the Dragons’ soon regained after Widdop ran the length of the field to score. David Taylor put the Gold Coast back in front four minutes from full-time after scoring out of dummy-half. The Titans’ held onto their lead to win by two points.
>>MATCH REPORT: Titan Taylor batters sorry Dragons
The Gold Coast Titans need a win to keep the wooden spoon at bay when they host the St George Illawarra Dragons, who are hungry for their first finals berth since Wayne Bennett left in 2011. Join The Roar from 3:50pm (AEST) for live coverage.
The Dragons held a convincing competition lead before slipping, and are now required to fend off top-eight contenders Canterbury, Melbourne and Manly – a tough challenge even considering their supposed ‘easy’ run home.
The Titans meanwhile are battling with the Tigers and Knights to avoid a second wooden spoon in their short history, with both teams hitting form.
The Dragons’ forwards remain the key to a top-eight spot, with Mike Cooper, Joel Thompson, Tyson Frizell and Trent Merrin delivering strong go-forward for the Red V. However they have their hands full against the Titans’ Nate Myles, Luke Douglas, David Taylor and Eddy Pettybourne.
2014 NYC Player of the Year Kane Elgey squares off against England five-eighth Gareth Widdop, and Elgey’s partner, Daniel Mortimer, will need to assist him in setting up plays for speedy outside backs James Roberts and David Mead.
Paul McGregor has made two changes to his side, with Joel Thompson moving in for the suspended Jake Marketo, while Jason Nightingale replaces Justin Hunt on the wing, with the former Eels and Rabbitohs player on a seven-man extended bench.
For the Titans, Greg Bird’s injury sees Daniel Mortimer move to five-eighth, Beau Falloon to hooker and Kierran Moseley come onto the bench. Lachlan Burr replaces the suspended Ryan James at lock, with Brad Tighe 18th man.
The Titans and Dragons have played each other 14 times since the Gold Coast’s foundation in 2007, with the Dragons winning 10 and the Titans four matches. Their most recent encounter came in Round 24, 2014, when the Dragons defeated the Titans 34-6 at Jubilee Oval.
The eighth-placed Dragons are coming off a win over the Panthers. Before that they lost to the Broncos and kept the Warriors to nil.
The fifteenth-placed Titans last week defeated the Raiders in an attempt to stay off the bottom of the ladder. Prior to that, they had consecutive losses at the hands of the Bulldogs and Storm.
The Dragons will next week face the last-placed Wests Tigers (Sydney), whom will be wanting to stay away from the deep perils of the NRL table. The Titans meanwhile take on the third-placed North Queensland Cowboys (Townsville), who will be looking to secure a home final in their quest toward a maiden premiership.
Prediction
The Titans will put out the Dragons’ fire.
Titans by 4.
Join The Roar from 3:50pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Daniel Miller
Guest
mate the calls were fair
Alvin Purple
Guest
Benji Marshall - what game where you watching?
Alvin Purple
Guest
What a load of horse shit!! There are no fans switching codes due to the referees. The biggest issue RL has is its fans who are without doubt the biggest whingers of any sport in the world. Somehow every other sport has issues but for some reason RL supporters think that our officials are the only in the world that can not be human beings. I was at the match yesterday and the reason St George lost was due to some pretty poor decisions. Really sick of the ref bashing in this code. To think of it go and support some other code and do us all a favour
Simon Templar
Guest
Not surprised really Saints are vulnerable against the weak teams usually put up a creditable showing against the top teams and lose As a Red V member that should read not very often Red V because they have worn the Red V jersey about 5 times this season. They are a very ordinary team. The forwards played in stops and starts and the backs offer little in attack. Widdop, Marshall and Dugan are capable of brilliance. Titans could have scored another four tries but often dropped the ball cold after good passes and no pressure. A Z grade game overall eg Aitken allowing a kick off to go over his head for a goal line dropout at a vital time late in the game - the rule in cricket fielding on the boundary and in RL - it is easier to come in for a catch than have to turn and run back. The Titans have been consistently one of the worst teams all year - Daniel Mortimer certainly tried his heart out and did a lot of tackling. The Dragons will find a resurgent Tigers outfit no walk in the (Olympic) Park.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
What a load of bullocks! The penalty count at half time was in favour of the Dragons 8-3. The Elgey try was disallowed - fair enough, but the other tries were legit. The fact is that the Dragons really shouldn't be in the finals on current form, but no one else below them does either. Maybe to final should go back to top 5?
steveng
Roar Rookie
SPOT ON MATE!!! I've been complaining and saying this for decades!!! The refereeing in the NRL is nothing short of pathetic and disgraceful!!! The NRL WILL DO NOTHING, there will be lots of fans switching codes as the NRL will not listen and/or learn by their mistakes of completely reviewing the game through the video refereeing as the centre referees just don't have what it takes. But that will take time and it will make the NRL even worst then the American NFL.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I've said that 'ALL YEAR' and its been that way all the time, a bad referee is like playing a 15 man squad opposition!
Bob
Guest
Not a Titans supporter Glenn. But good try on the comeback buddy.
SpongeBob
Guest
So basically, Dragons a heck of a lot closer to last than they are first.
Glenn
Guest
Yes, JVGO, a "classic Dragons Supporter"- a Badge of Honour, if ever there was one, I'd rather finish last in a Red V than win the premiership in any other colours breaking the rules like some of them do without sanction. Remember they had to change the rules to stop the Dragons winning the Premiership! Not to mention our 16 Premierships.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah may as well give 5th place a week off.
JVGO
Guest
What a classic Dragons supporter. Unbelievable.
redden white eye
Guest
A game of 2 halves . Dragons all over them in the first half. Gold Coast better in the second half. Too many second phase passes from GC and some dodgy ref calls didn't help the Dragons. Why can't Rein play the full 80 minutes? It seems when he goes off, we lose the momentum gained! Has been the same all year. He is one of my favourite players that I wish would stay on the field for the full 80 minutes.Conversely, what the hell is Farrel doing out there?
Glenn
Guest
Yes, Bob at the beginning of the season no one predicted the Dragons would make the Eight and we still will and your Titans can't get near anything but the wooden spoon just t like every Gold Coast team before them. Not to mention our 16 Premierships.
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
Whoever plays the Dragons in the finals gets an easy weeks advance to the Semis.
144
Roar Guru
Surprising?? Titans infront Horrible refereeing and it's a disappointment. Not to quote Graham Arnold but it's referees sometimes who ruin the game.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Titans stun Dragons in a thriller
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Big Dave Taylor levels Garvey
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bob, They have lost plenty of games fairly throughout the season. This one however was the worst of the lot.
The eye
Guest
dragons didnt deserve to win..Elgey another excellent game..Paasi could be anything next year..congrats to Neil Henry for keeping this side competitive