Another second half capitulation has broken the hearts of Titans fans, as the Gold Coast outfit let a 14-point lead slip to suffer a 20-18 defeat at the Bulldogs’ hands. Here are the big talking points to come out of the contest >>
Another second half capitulation has broken the hearts of Titans fans, as the Gold Coast outfit let a 14-point lead slip to suffer a 20-18 defeat at the Bulldogs’ hands.
Justin Holbrook’s men had the chance to put themselves within two competition points of the NRL’s ladder leaders, and a try four minutes into the contest from David Fifita had them well placed to do so.
Taking on a decimated Canterbury-Bankstown forward pack — who were without key men Luke Thompson, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Viliame Kikau — Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui laid a palpable platform and bullied their inexperienced rivals in the opening 40 minutes.
But despite their rookie status, Jacob Preston (11 games), Samuel Hughes (three), Harrison Edwards (seven) and Kurtis Morrin (six) responded to Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo’s halftime rev up alongside a powerhouse display from Tevita Pangai Jr Junior; rising to the fight and giving halfback Matt Burton plenty of room to wreak havoc.
A Burton classic bomb kickstarted the Bulldogs fightback, latched onto by Jake Averillo to score, before the former sliced through a gap on the next set to put returning winger Josh Addo-Carr over.
Titans winger Phil Sami scored to extend the margin out to eight-points, however a try to Jacob Kiraz and a last-gasp effort from Jayden Okunbor delivered the Bulldogs a remarkable win.
Gold Coast skipper Tino Fa’asuamealui could also find himself in trouble with the NRL judiciary, placed on report for a dangerous tackle that could have his spot in the Queensland State of Origin side in doubt.
The defeat marks the third time this year the Gold Coast have let strong halftime leads fall to the wayside — headlined by their historic collapse against the Dolphins in Round 8.
FIFITA IN VAIN
On a day which may have ended a Queensland forward’s chance to line up in the State of Origin opener, Titans star Fifita issued a one last cry for a recall to the Maroons fold.
The Gold Coast weapon has been in emphatic form in 2023, and even in Sunday afternoon’s defeat made his presence felt.
As Maroons coach Billy Slater prepares to name his Game I team on Monday morning, Fifita terrorised the Canterbury-Bankstown defenders in the first half; finishing the clash with 132 running metres, six tackle busts, a linebreak, a linebreak assist and a try assist to go with 29 tackles and a try.
The 23-year-old’s performance came on the same day Dolphins hit man Felise Kaufusi was charged with a grade two careless high tackle by the NRL’s match-review committee in the aftermath of his side’s defeat to Melbourne.
Kaufusi was seemingly a lock for one of Queensland’s spots on the edge for the May 31 clash, having battled New South Wales 14 times since his 2018 debut.
However should the Dolphins accept an early guilty plea, or take the charge to the judiciary and lose, the veteran is expected to miss at least three weeks.
IS MO THE GO?
While Fifita’s chances of earning an Origin recall have skyrocketed courtesy of Kaufusi’s doubt, Fotuaika faces a sterner test to squeeze his way in.
Despite turning in some career-best form throughout the campaign, the Gold Coast enforcer is a name often left off the selection debate.
Even with the Queensland retirement of Josh Papali’i, a logjam of props has given Slater a genuine headache: Titans skipper Fa’asuamaleaui (should he escape suspension) and Broncos lock Patrick Carrigan seemingly the only guaranteed middle men.
Roosters enforcer Lindsay Collins, Cowboys gun Reuben Cotter, Brisbane aggressor Tom Flegler, Storm veteran Christian Welch, Dolphins lock Tom Gilbert and Raiders bolter Corey Horsborough will all come into the mix prior to the team’s announcement.
Yet Fotuaika gave Slater one final statement against the Bulldogs pack. By halftime, he had run for 153m and made 21 tackles for no misses before being kept on the bench for much of the second stanza.
Originally published as Gold Coast Titans suffer horror second half collapse to go down to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs