Jack Harbidge reviews the Round 17 clash between Canterbury Bulldogs and Gold Coast Titans at ANZ Stadium….. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 2nd | Try Corey Thompson (Gold Coast) | Gold Coast 4-0 |
| 4th | Goal Ashley Taylor (Gold Coast) | Gold Coast 6-0 |
| 20th | Try Beau Fermor (Gold Coast) | Gold Coast 10-0 |
| 26th | Try Nick Meaney (Canterbury-Bankstown) | Gold Coast 10-4 |
| 28th | Goal Nick Meaney (Canterbury-Bankstown) | Gold Coast 10-6 |
| 31st | Try Jamal Fogarty (Gold Coast) | Gold Coast 14-6 |
| 50th | Try Kieren Foran (Canterbury-Bankstown) | Gold Coast 14-10 |
| 53rd | Try Anthony Don (Gold Coast) | Gold Coast 18-10 |
| 71st | Try Lachlan Lewis (Canterbury-Bankstown) | Gold Coast 18-14 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
The Gold Coast Titans got off to a great start pressing the Bulldogs in the red-zone early on. After a good set up in the middle from the Queensland side, Gold Coast executed a play to the left edge and Ash Taylor landed a pass on Cory Thompson’s chest for the lethal winger to go over and open the scoring. Following somewhat of a freak score, both sides wrestled for meaningful possession and Canterbury fielded the best attacking set in the middle part of the first half, before making an unforced error in good field position. Off the back of which, Sam Stone made a lengthy break to set the Titans up at the Bulldogs line. Despite the exceptional field position, the Titans couldn’t convert and Canterbury continued to play tough out of their end.
The Bulldogs continued to defend valiantly and dampened the Gold Coast opportunities, before the Titans capitalised on some fortuitous calls, for Beau Fermor to cross half-way through the half. The Bulldogs battled back, however, and Nick Meaney crossed in fine style to cut the Titans’ lead to four. Despite the Bulldogs looking back in the game, a poor Kerrod Holland error gave the Titans a guilt-edged opportunity near the Bulldogs’ line. Of which, Jamal Fogarty took great advantage and slid over all too easily off the back of a set play to extend the Gold Coast lead to eight points heading into half time.
2nd Half
The Bulldogs battled their way through the first part of the second half, forcing the majority of the scoring opportunities in the early stages, and, ultimately the pressure came to fruition when the ultra-skilful Kieran Foran went over from close range. While Nick Meaney couldn’t convert the try, the lead was cut to ten points and the Bulldogs looked the better of the two sides.
Gold Coast soon turned the tides and Anthony Don crossed for his 10th of the season off the back of Corey Thompson’s boot. That wasn’t the end, however, and off the back of compounded set completions the Bulldogs struck back through Lachlan Lewis to reduce the deficit to four points. The Bulldogs, unfortunately, couldn’t reel in the Titans and Justin Holbrook’s side ran out 18-14 winners at the buzzer.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
Albeit in somewhat of an uneventful game, the highlight was undoubtedly Gold Coast Titans’ Moeaki Fotuaika. The Titans’ prop ran for 201 metres and made 45 tackles in a commanding performance through the middle and, alongside excelling at the basics, he provided 2 offloads and 6 tackle busts for his team to notch another win in a rebuilding season.
SQUADS
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Nick Meaney 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6. Kieran Foran 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Aiden Tolman 14. Jake Averillo 15. Renouf To’omaga 16. Matt Doorey 17. Luke Thompson.
Gold Coast Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Corey Thompson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Young Tonumaipea 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty (c) 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Jaimin Joliffe 11. Sam Stone 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tyrone Peachey 14. Erin Clark 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Sam Lisone 19. Jai Arrow 20. Anthony Don.
