GOLD COAST TITANS 8 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 30
TOM SMITH, Cbus Super Stadium, Thursday

JAXON Purdue redeemed himself after getting sin-binned and Heilum Luki bagged a powerful double as the Cowboys bounced back from last week’s horror loss by beating the Titans. 

Phillip Sami’s second try moments after Purdue committed a professional foul brought Gold Coast within 10 points, but the North Queensland halfback scored a superb solo try and Luki snared a second to secure a much-needed victory. 

The result puts the Cowboys back inside the top eight after their 82-12 implosion to the Roosters seven days prior. Coach Todd Payten will be relieved his defence conceded just two tries after bleeding 14 in Round 22. 

The resurgent Jason Taumalolo opened the scoring after five minutes, barging over from close range. 

Standoff Jake Clifford quickly piled on another, steaming onto a nicely timed Purdue pass. 

Sami got the Titans on the board thanks to a perfect Jaylan De Groot offload in the left corner. 

But Luki shrugged off four goal-line defenders up the other end to send the Cowboys to the sheds up by 14. 

Purdue’s sin-binning for holding down AJ Brimson in the ruck opened the door for Sami to score his second courtesy of Keano Kini. 

But Purdue soon streaked 70 metres from dummy-half for the highlight of the evening, before Luki added an exclamation mark on the end of a clever Scott Drinkwater play.   

TITANS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Dean Ieremia, 3 Jojo Fifita, 20 Jaylan De Groot, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Jayden Campbell, 4 AJ Brimson, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 18 Sam Verrills, 10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 12 Beau Fermor, 15 Josh Patston, 13 Chris Randall. Subs: 7 Lachlan Ilias (not used), 9 Oliver Pascoe, 11 Arama Hau (not used), 14 Kurtis Morrin, 16 Klese Haas, 17 Cooper Bai 

Tries: Sami (28, 47); Goals: Campbell 0/2 

COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Braidon Burns, 3 Zac Laybutt, 4 Tom Chester, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Jaxon Purdue, 8 Thomas Mikaele, 9 Soni Luke, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Heilum Luki, 12 Kai O’Donnell, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs: 14 Ethan King, 15 Thomas Mikaele, 16 Matthew Lodge (not used), 17 Coen Hess, 18 Sam McIntyre (not used), 20 John Bateman 

Tries: Taumalolo (5), Clifford (12), Luki (38, 69), Purdue (59); Goals: Drinkwater 5/5.

Sin-bin: Purdue (47) – professional foul 

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 4-12, 4-18; 8-18, 8-24, 8-30

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Titans: Phillip Sami; Cowboys: Heilum Luki 

Penalty count: 8-2; Half-time: 4-18; Referee: Adam Gee; Attendance: 11,740