GOLD COAST TITANS 38 MANLY SEA EAGLES 32
IAN HOWE, Cbus Super Stadium, Sunday

MANLY SEA EAGLES suffered a devastating blow in Queensland, not only going down to the Titans and dropping out of the play-off places, but also losing their star fullback Tom Trbojevic with a hamstring injury, the ninth of his career, in the 21st minute of the game.

Trbojevic had scored the game’s opening try inside two minutes and he gave the assist for Jason Saab to cross four minutes later.

But after that the Gold Coast effectively took charge, scoring five first-half tries to take a commanding 14-point lead at half-time and after that, despite scoring three tries to two in the second half, they could never get back on terms.

Two tries from hooker Oliver Pascoe exposed Manly’s middle defence, before Titans centre Jojo Fifita just got back to tackle Josh Feledy at the other end.

Fifita then scored himself, collecting a brilliant flicked offload from Josh Patston.

And just before half-time AJ Brimson beat Jason Saab to touch down a kick into the in-goal and the Titans were able to sit on their lead from then on.

TITANS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Dean Ieremia, 3 Jojo Fifita, 4 AJ Brimson, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Jayden Campbell, 7 Zane Harrison, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Oliver Pascoe, 10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11 Arama Hau, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Chris Randall. Subs: 15 Josh Patston, 16 Klese Haas, 17 Cooper Bai, 18 Sam Verrills (not used), 19 Lachlan Ilias, Michael Molo (not used)

Tries: Ieremia (9), Pascoe (17, 28), Fifita (34, 70), Brimson (40), Fermor (58); Goals: Campbell 5/7; Sin bin: Ieremia (68) – dangerous tackle

SEA EAGLES: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jason Saab, 3 Tolutau Koula, 4 Reuben Garrick, 5 Lehi Hopoate, 6 Joey Walsh, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Taniela Paseka, 9 Jake Simpkin, 10 Simione Laifai, 11 Haumole Olakau’atu, 12 Ethan Bullemor, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Subs: 14 Josh Feledy, 15 Nathan Brown, 16 Kobe Hetherington, 17 Jackson Shereb, 18 Nicholas Lenaz (not used), 20 Aaron Schoupp (not used)

Tries: T Trbojevic (2), Saab (6, 23), Olakau’atu (54), Garrick (63), Koula (80); Goals: Fogarty 4/6; Sin bin: Feledy (69) – repeated offences

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 4-10, 10-10, 10-14, 16-14, 22-14, 28-14; 28-20, 34-20, 34-26, 38-26, 38-32

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Titans: Jojo Fifita; Sea Eagles: Jason Saab

Penalty count: 4-1; Half-time: 28-14; Referee: Adam Gee; Attendance: 15,525