The Titans have broken a five-match losing streak with a 33-26 win over the Knights in an entertaining game on the Gold Coast.
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Final score
Gold Coast Titans 33
Newcastle Knights 26
The Gold Coast Titans will be looking to snap a five-match losing streak when they host the Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
After a promising start to 2018, winning three of their first five games, the Titans have slumped to second-last on the ladder and desperately need two points.
The Knights are in tenth spot, two points out of the top eight, but are coming off back-to-back losses to Souths and Penrith, so will be keen to avoid three in a row.
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown is staying loyal to his squad, making just one change as Jacob Saifiti takes Luke Yates’ spot on the bench. Connor Watson has once again been named at five-eighth, despite copping criticism from Brown for two costly errors last week against Penrith.
Garth Brennan welcomes back Jai Arrow from injury at lock, with Max King dropping back to the bench. Nathan Peats returns at hooker, pushing Mitch Rein back to the bench, while Keegan Hipgrave will start in the backrow in place of Will Matthews, who was concussed last week.
Kevin Proctor has been named in the starting 13, despite suffering a groin injury last week in a tackle that saw Cameron Smith suspended for this round. However, Bryce Cartwright has been dropped from the 17, with his controversial ‘no tackle’ attempt on the Storm’s Cameron Munster last week apparently the last straw for Brennan.
Prediction
The Gold Coast’s season is on the line and that should be enough to lift them.
Titans by 7.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
JD St George
Roar Pro
That's his prediction every game. I thought it would never be correct. I was proven wrong.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on this afternoon’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments on the game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report TITANS 33 NEWCASTLE 26 The Titans have broken a five-match losing streak with a 33-26 win over the Knights in an entertaining game on the Gold Coast. It was a gutsy win the Titans after they were briefly down to 11 men early in the second half. Both Moeaki Fotuaika and Jarrod Wallace spent time in the sin bin for repeated infringements near their own try line. The Titans showed real grit to fight back from 26-18 down with eighteen minutes to score 15 unanswered points. Rookie five-eighth AJ Brimson scored the match-winner with four minutes to go, picking up the crumbs to score in the corner after centre Dale Copley had batted back an Ash Taylor cross-field kick. Taylor slotted a field goal two minutes later to put the game out of Newcastle’s reach. Earlier, the Titans had led 12-8 at half-time after scoring two tries to one in the first forty minutes. They scored their first try in the 8th minute when winger Phillip Sami crossed in the corner. It came after Michael Gordon batted back an Ash Taylor bomb and the Titans spun the ball wide. The Titans added a penalty goal not long after to skip out to an 8-0 lead. The Knights hit back in the 28th minute when centre Sione Mata’utia stepped inside to beat Copley and score. That was followed up by a penalty goal from Brock Lamb a few minutes later to level the scores. Two minutes before half-time, Ash Taylor flicked a beautiful pass to put Copley over and allow the Titans to regain the lead. It was a see-sawing second half. The Knights opened the scoring in the 45th minute with a try from close range by a charging Herman Ese’ese. That put them in front for the first time in the match at 14-12. The Titans hit back two minutes later with slick backline passing to create an overlap, before Copley threw a great flick pass to put Sami over for his second try. Taylor’s conversion made it 18-14, but a great ball from Kalyn Ponga put winger Ken Sio over in the corner ten minutes later. Brock Lamb’s sideline conversion put the Knights back in front 20-18. Ponga then broke the line on a kick return and showed his speed to streak away 95 metres to score in the 62nd minute. That try gave the Knights an 8-point buffer, but the Titans came back strongly to grab a desperately needed two points.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Wish I'd had a bet on it Jason!
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
excellent win to the Titans and well done to you John picking the exact margin, I'm impressed!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for the TITANS! TITANS 33 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Another short kick off attempt by the Knights goes astray, penalty to the Titans. TITANS 33 NEWCASTLE 26
eagleJack
Roar Guru
That’s better, good stuff Ash
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Field goal to Taylor! TITANS 33 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Short kick off attempt from the Knights, but a penalty to the Titans! TITANS 32 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Taylor lands the conversion from the sideline! TITANS 32 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
76’ Great work from Dale Copley to bat back an Ash Taylor cross-field kick. Brimson picked up the crumbs to score in the corner. TITANS 30 NEWCASTLE 26
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Good result for the Titans, but really poor from Ash Taylor. Two opportunities for a field goal but goes for the Hail Mary twice. Grubber then bomb to the corner. Kevvie Walters shakes his head.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
75’ Green light! Try! TITANS 30 NEWCASTLE 26 Kick to come.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
75’ Try!! Titans (Brimson) - pending bunker review!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
74’ Taylor misses the penalty! Knights dropout. TITANS 26 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
73’ Penalty to the Titans, they’ll take a shot at goal about 20 metres to the left of the posts! TITANS 26 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
72’ Titans on the attack! TITANS 26 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
71’ Clearing kick from the Knights, taken by Sami on his own 10. Relieving penalty now for the Titans. TITANS 26 NEWCASTLE 26
John Coomer
Roar Guru
70’ The Titans complete their restart set with a bomb, taken by Ponga on his own 10. TITANS 26 NEWCASTLE 26