Brave Titans prevail in golden point thriller

v BYE

The Gold Coast Titans have prevailed in a golden point thriller tonight, defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 29-28 in front of 13142 fans.

Both teams showed a willingness to use the football on a dry track, but lacked execution at crucial times resulting in a low scoring first half that saw the Titans take a 12-0 lead into the sheds on the back of tries to Ryan James in the 13 minute and Ash Taylor in the 39th minute.

As the passes started to stick more in the second forty, the scoreboard attendants were kept more busy.

After a 40/20 from Taylor, scrum-base partner Tyrone Roberts sliced through with his trademark show and go to touchdown under the posts in the 46th minute and give his team what looked a comfortable 18-0 lead at the time. 

The Rabbitohs weren't about to go down quietly though and hit back with tries to Bryson Goodwin in the 50th and Dane Nielson in the 54th minutes to reduce the deficit to eight.

In a see-sawing second stanza, man of the match James wrestled the momentum back the Titans way with a second barge over try running off a short ball from Nathan Peats in the 57th minute. Roberts conversion sent the Titans back out to a commanding 24/10 lead.

The pendulum again swung back the way of the home team with tries to live-wire Cody Walker in the 63rd and Siosifa Talakai who scored on debut with his first touch of the ball running off skipper Greg Inglis in the 66th minute to reduce the Titans lead to two. 

The desperation in defence was on show from both teams over the next ten minute period before Titans centre Josh Hoffman took advantage of some handy work from winger Nene MacDonald, who leaped for a high ball and produced a one handed offload for his centre to score in the 77th minute. 

Down 28-22 with only minutes to play, the Rabbitohs regained possession through a short kick-off before hooker Cameron McInnes sliced through the defence to score in the dying seconds. The boot of Reynolds sent the match into golden point.

After trading field goal attempts in extra time, Reynolds appeared to have kicked the match winner until referee Grant Atkins checked for interference on the Titans defenders with the bunker. The goal was disallowed and the players were headed for a second stanza of extra time.

Both teams struggles to get into a position to take a shot in the closing stages before rookie Titans half Ash Taylor nailed the match winning field goal from 25 metres out.

Next week the Rabbitohs will play the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, whilst the Titans continue their track around the country travelling to Darwin's TIO Stadium to tackle the Parramatta Eels on Saturday evening.