The Brisbane Broncos have come away with a two-point win over the Gold Coast Titans in a Good Friday thriller.
Final score
Brisbane Broncos 24
Gold Coast Titans 22
The Brisbane Broncos will be out to improve their standing in the top eight and heap more misery on the brave but injury-ravaged Gold Coast Titans in a Southeast Queensland derby on Good Friday. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Broncos struggled their way through the first few rounds of the season. While their defence held up, their attack was a different story, struggling to break opposition defences and seemingly stuck in a structure that wasn’t working.
Starting the season with one wins from four games was less than ideal, but they threw caution out last week, running up 32 points on the Sydney Roosters in a brilliant display of attacking rugby league.
While some of it didn’t come off, they tried every trick in the book and ran away with the game in the second half.
Ben Hunt was a casualty from the game though and could miss up to eight weeks, paving the way for Kodi Nikorima to start and make a statement about his future. In a boost, Corey Oates is back on the wing, with David Mead the unlucky one.
The Titans, on the other hand, have been crippled by injuries, with $4 million worth of talent watching on from the sidelines last weekend. Because of that, it’s hardly surprising to see them with just a single win from six matches and sitting second last, only ahead of the Newcastle Knights by virtue of for and against.
What the Titans do have though is an incredible fighting spirit and a youthful attack that has been exciting, but needs to find consistency.
But if Neil Henry’s side want to make the finals, they’ll need to win at least 11 from their 18 remaining games. If that is to happen, it will be built on the back of their defence and halves Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey, who have almost directed the side to a few victories.
These sides have met 21 times since the Titans’ introduction to the competition, with the Broncos winning 16, including all of the last five, and ten of 11 at Suncorp Stadium.
Prediction
The Titans will fight hard, like they always do, and probably score enough points to be competitive. But the Broncos changed their style completely last week and if they continue to play like that, their incredible record over the Titans will continue.
Broncos by 12.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Good Friday derby from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Sava
Guest
That's the sad thing about all sport nowadays ,its all about winning,well the Titans won my heart last night ,and its all about having a go to me and they did that..I hope the Titans realise that they gave their supporters their all and that is all that should be expected of players. Sava
Ekka
Guest
Not at all unlucky actually, They were extraordinarily and quite unreasonably lucky to get within a bull's roar of the Broncos, who could - and should - have scored at least two more tries while the Titans/Chargers/Seagulls/Fi Fo Fee Fums (what did they really call themselves in their first manifestation?), and there may have been another name I can't remember. The most blatant example was the referee's "no-try" ruling late in the game when there was no clear vision - in the opinion of the bunker "referee" only, so he refused to overrule his on-field NSW colleague. How pathetic that both the on-field ref and his NSW mate deep in the bunker in Sin City mate failed to rule in favour of the attacking team. What happened to the idea that the attacking team got the nod in such cases? The team from south of Brisbane lost fair and square, and indeed should have lost by a very much greater margin, however they should lobby hard to get the same referee(s) for all subsequent matches they play.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Looking at the stats the Broncos still have a bit to work on. 57% completion rate and 17 errors and two bombed tries arn't going to win you a lot of games. Hopefully just a result of the new halves combination but they have to fix it. Also, can some one tell roberts to ground the ball closer to the posts when he scores in open space?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Jeez - how unlucky are the Titans. Was Gillett offside before that charge down? If not it was a great play. I think the 10 metres for the Broncos defenders went out the window in the last 10 minutes. In hindsight perhaps Elgey should have held on to the ball and let Gillett charge through before kicking. Or perhaps they could have kicked one tackle earlier. Easy in hindsight. Great game to watch. Have to feel for the Titans. They looked gutted at the end.
Emcie
Roar Guru
who would you drop to fit Hayne back in? there wasn't a titans player that didn't look dangerous and their spine looks really solid. Without injuries you'd have to think they'd just about be a top 5 team
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll just about do it for a big Friday night of action on The Roar with a triple-header coming to a dramatic conclusion. Hopefully you have enjoyed every moment of it. We will be back tomorrow for another three games. John Coomer starts it off at 3pm (AEST) with Manly vs Melbourne, then I'll be around from 5:30pm for Canberra vs New Zealand before the Dragons take on the Cowboys at 7:30pm - Sam Ashton will be here for that one. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Sean
Guest
Yes they did.. But the young halves will learn from it. There kicking game let them down..
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Short kick-off and the Titans get it back! Elgey wit hit and he finds Lawton who is held. This will be the final play and James has it before finding Peats who kicks for the corner, looking for Don, but Mead has got there to save the day! He bats it over the sideline, only just getting there. The Titans. What a brave performance. More injuries, more battling and they had the lead. You have to feel sorry for them. What a game of footy that was though. Absolutely entertaining from end to end. Brisbane Broncos 24 Gold Coast Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by ANTHONY MILFORD 31 seconds on the clock. Broncos 24 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - TRY BRONCOS, JAMES ROBERTS Sarginson brings it away from the scrum here for the Titans before Lawton and James bring it into the middle. The Gold Coast look tired here trying to clear their own end as Simpkins and Wallace take the next few runs. The kick has to come from inside 40 and it's been charged down! What an incredible turn of events. Boyd has charged the kick down from Elgey and he came up with it, found Roberts and he scored in the corner. Roberts has a hat-trick, and surely, surely the Broncos have the game. And what a game at that. Broncos 24 Titans 22
Zedman
Roar Rookie
No, the Titans didn't deserve that.
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Broncos bring it up to halfway on the third play through Milford and he launches right for Nikorima, then Boyd and Milford again who finds Ese'ese and he beats a few, eventually put down 20 out. They come right now and the pass to Milford has gone to ground! He's put it down. Game not over, but that hurts the Broncos big time. Broncos 20 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - James brings it away for the Titans before Wallace goes to the left edge. McQueen has the next run before Elgey goes to Roberts, then Sarginson who is taken ten shy of halfway. Vaivai comes over halfway now before Simpkins has another run and he is chopped down 40 out. Taylor kicks, it deflects back to Roberts and he looks to kick it over the sideline, has put it straight into Taylor and it's an accidental offside. Handover. Broncos 20 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Seven tackle set coming up for the Titans as well. Broncos 20 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Broncos back to halfway in three plays through Roberts now before they come left from Nikorima to Milford and then Boyd who goes to Oates. He runs back from the sideline, finds Boyd again and the tackle count restarts with a tough from the Titans. Brisbane come back through the middle through Ese'ese and then McGuire before Milford goes left and can't get an offload away. Now McCullough to Ese'ese and he settles with a bit of a nothing play. Now on the fifth and Milford struggling with a leg injury, has managed to grubber in behind. One of the Titans reached out to bat it dead, almost missed it and Moga is claiming the try. Sarginson the man to hit it there, but Moga may have got a hand on it. Looks like it'll be a knock on against Moga and the Bunker will rule that way. No try. Broncos 20 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - The Titans bringing it away here and James is smashed on the third with a big hit from Gillett. McQueen goes down the left, then Vaivai comes back through the middle. Last play and Taylor angles his kick for the sideline, but Oates isn't having any of it, bringing it back strongly. Broncos 20 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by ASHLEY TAYLOR Broncos 20 Titans 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - TRY TITANS, KANE ELGEY Good start to the set from Anthony Don before Wallace comes towards halfway on what is play number 1. McQueen now goes down the left hand side before James heads back towards the middle. Wallace with it again and he links with Vaivai. Taylor now to the line and he links with James before they go left on the last and oh my! This is absolutely brilliant! What a wonderful grubber. Taylor has grubbered back on the inside for Elgey and no one read it! No one! Elgey has planted it down and ruled onside by the bunker, they square the game up. Broncos 20 Titans 20
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Roberts is a rocks or diamonds type of player.