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Cowboys conquer improved Titans in NRL Trial

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Expert
23rd February, 2019
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Jake Clifford has led the way for the North Queensland Cowboys as they recorded a tight six-point trial victory over a much-improved Gold Coast Titans on the Sunshine Coast.

The Titans had the better of the first half of the game without many of their stars. With Ashley Taylor, AJ Brimson, Nathan Peats and captain Ryan James sitting on the sideline just to name a few, it was Mitch Rein and Tyrone Roberts who stood up to control the show.

Rein proved exactly how valuable he will be off the bench for the Titans in 2019, while Roberts kicking game already looks like being the perfect foil for Taylor to lead the side around the park once the regular season arrives.

Members of their forward pack were also good, with the exciting prop Moeaki Fotuaika making the most of his opportunity to start the game.

Despite the Titans early going, it was the Cowboys who opened the scoring through Clifford himself as he burnt the defensive line.

The Titans wasted no time hitting back though, with Jesse Arthars benefiting off the good work of
Rein and Cartwright, who dumped a pass inside and put him into a big gap.

Cartwright had a rocks and diamonds game, making a few critical errors, but also putting on some nice plays and running the ball hard, so there was enough there to suggest he will play a part for the Titans this year.

The scoring continued shortly afterwards as a nice play put through Te Maire Martin in the 26th minute. While Clifford dominated, Martin also played strongly when he was given the chance, and Paul Green would be no closer to an answer in the halves after tonight.

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Rein continued on his good first half to score the final points of the opening 40, dummying and slicing through the line to tie things up at the break.

The second half was a show of fringe first graders as the Cowboys eventually came away with the win through Clifford’s tries, but some of their forwards – Mitch Dunn, Shane Wright and Thomas Gilbert in particular – were all excellent.

The Cowboys take on the Storm next week, while the Titans play the Broncos ahead of their respective Round 1 matches against the Dragons and Raiders respectively.

Titans 16
Cowboys 22

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