The New Zealand Warriors have missed a chance to nail down an NRL finals spot as Gold Coast ran away 36-12 winners at home.
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Final score
Gold Coast Titans 36
New Zealand Warriors 12
The New Zealand Warriors will be aiming to move one step closer to the finals when they travel to play the struggling Gold Coast Titans in Round 20. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
It feels like an eternity ago when the Warriors took this year’s competition by storm, proving all the doubters wrong to sit in the top four during the first half of the season.
Since then, their old demons of fitness and inconsistency have sprung up, signing them to the bottom half of the eight – so much so that their finals hopes are now in the balance.
They do have a four-point advantage and are being aided strongly by a shocking loss for the Wests Tigers on Friday night at the hands of the Catnerbury Bulldogs, but a loss today will keep the race for the eight alive with a month of footy to go in the regular season.
The Warriors built their run at the start of the season on the back of their forwards, who were defending up and in, using intensity in their line speed to ensure they wouldn’t concede too many points. With that being the backbone of their game, the attack, led by superstars Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Scheck was able to thrive.
Since those first eight weeks, their defence has fallen apart and left them freefalling through the eight which continued last week with a 12-6 loss at home to the Melbourne Storm.
While the Warriors haven’t been perfect, the Titans have been at the other end of the spectrum with only a brief two-week run following the representative round sparking their finals hopes for a moment.
They are dashed now, and the Titans would love to grab a win in the next few weeks to ensure they won’t finish 2018 with the dreaded wooden spoon.
Last week’s loss to the Newcastle Knights, where they let in 30 points and struggled to match it offensively at times continued a shocking trend though, with a loss to the undermanned Sydney Roosters at home the week before.
Those games indicate, especially in defence, that the Titans have all but clocked off for 2018 and if that continues today, the Warriors could run riot on a ground where they have won their last seven in this head-to-head.
Prediction
While the Warriors have been up and down, you’d think, with so much on the line and up against a struggling Titans, today should be one of those up days.
Warriors by 14.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 20 clash from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Been in a crusher tackle? It’s awful. I imagine it is what my luggage feels like on the return trip.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Not necessarily. The Warriors we all know and love (or loathe if you’re a keen punter/tipper) are as capable of going 5-0 as they are 0-5. Their +/- isn’t good either. One more heavy loss and a decent score line in the Tigers favour, both results very possible next week depending on which dragons and knights teams show up, puts them neck and neck with the 2 competition points being the difference. Right now the warriors destiny is in their own hands. I’m not sure I’d trust them with that.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Another game where the Titans showcase their endless potential. It's a shame they've been so inconsistent this season. Warriors top 8 spot is still not safe
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon for The Roar's live coverage of the 2018 NRL season as the Titans upset the Warriors at home. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Right now, it's time to flick across to the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Graham
Guest
Gee brimson and sami have had a great start to their careers With all the talent titans have how are they on the foot of the ladder
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The New Zealand Warriors have failed to secure their place in the NRL finals, going down to the Gold Coast Titans away from home by 24 points. The Warriors had won all of their last seven on the Gold Coast before today, but they struggled to put the foot on the floor despite leading at halftime. It almost seemed as if the visitors failed to come out of the halftime break, with the Titans running up 28 unanswered points during the second half. AJ Brimson and Ashley Taylor were among the Titans best, but they had a complete team effort to bash the Warriors up the middle of the ground. Without Shaun Johnson though, the Warriors may well have been on the back foot coming out of the first 40 minutes of the contest. It means the Warriors have lost two straight and while they are helped by the Tigers shocking loss to the Bulldogs on Friday, New Zealand have to play St George Illawarra next week and will be just starting to get a little bit nervous if the Tigers can start winning again. Titans 36 Warriors 12
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Would of loved to have seen all the old kits worn for retro round...Completely useless calling it retro round without the kits worn. Although I guess it is just FOX calling it that so the NRL needs to get on board.Would of been good to see some teams that wont even the same team back then.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Titans will have one last shot at scoring. They look dangerous as well with James almost over, then it's Rein to Taylor who looks one way, fires the other, then it's Lee going to ground and that will be the end of the contest on the Gold Coast. Huge win for the Titans! Titans 36 Warriors 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - And now an error from Will Matthews. Someone ring the fulltime siren. Titans 36 Warriors 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Ah wow. The Warriors have dropped it again, then the Titans get a penalty. Titans 36 Warriors 12
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Gold Coast have won alot of money for me this year always heavy odds agaisnt them but still alot of good quality players in their team.
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Konrad Hurrell away from the scrum, then it's Stockwell back up the guts of the defence. They go right with James back on the inside, before Rein goes to Taylor and he floats a pass for Taylor, but it goes straight into the second row of the crowd. Titans 36 Warriors 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Nothing going right for the Warriors. Paasi offloads straight to Rein here and the Titans will go the other way. Wallace stopped 20 out, then it's Rein a dart out of dummy half. Matthews down the left, then an offload to Taylor before they go the other way and Gordon is shut down. Last play and Rein grubbers, but this time it is knocked on by Tuivasa-Sheck. Titans 36 Warriors 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Short kick-off. Phillip Sami flies above the pack to take it, then beats a few up to halfway. Peats goes over halfway, then Taylor goes right to Proctor and he is stopped 40 out. Now they go left and Brimson is through the line, before Taylor rolls one through, Tuivasa-Sheck knocks it on... well, the referee doesn't think so and the Warriors have possession. Titans 36 Warriors 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - CONVERSION MISSED by MICHAEL GORDON Titans 36 Warriors 12
Stu
Guest
So far forward from Gordon - refs have been terrible again. Gold Coast haven't needed any help though. They've been fantastic this 2nd half
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - TRY TITANS, PHILLIP SAMI The Titans away from the scrum through Hurrell and Peats. He gets a quick play the ball, then they shuffle it all the way onto the left and have a massive overlap, Brimson throwing a catch and pass at the line. Absolutely superb pass with Gordon then throwing the ball on for Sami who scores in the corner Titans 36 Warriors 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - This one is just about in the books. Warriors now caught accidentally offside, so it's a Titans scrum feed 20 metres out. Titans 32 Warriors 12
Stu
Guest
I still think they will make the 8. Tigers will have to win 4 from 5 and i dont think they can