2021 NRL Round 11, Titans 30 Bulldogs 20 – Report

Christopher Rooney reviews the clash between the Gold Coast and Canterbury-Bankstown. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

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3 pts – Alexander Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
2 pts – Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
1 pt – Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans)

MATCH REPORT

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1st Half

After re-signing with the Titans for another five seasons, AJ Brimson displayed why he deserved a new contract extension, scoring the first try of the afternoon from a great kick from Brian Kelly.

After the first try, there was a good period of the first half where it was filled with unforced errors from both sides and neither team was able to build any pressure or momentum with the ball.

At the 16th minute, it look like Dallin Watene-Zelezniak had scored one of the easiest tries of his career, but it was overturned after a review of an obstruction against the Titans.

It was a very lucky break for the Titans as their defence at their own goal-line was poor again when they were challenged for the first time in defence.

The Titans were rewarded penalty after a penalty from the Bulldogs’ Chris Smith and were able to score off this, after big Tino Fa’asuamaleaui just walked over to score the second try of the afternoon. There were very poor defensive reads by many of the Bulldog players, who were unable to stop big Tino scoring the easiest try of the first half.

However, it didn’t affect the Bulldogs’ confidence: after a number of good passes at their own end, Nick Cotric made a great line break and passed to Smith to score the Bulldogs’ first try of the afternoon.

With less than five minutes to go, Brimson caught a tough ball and made a great break to virtually set-up the Titans’ third try of the afternoon by getting them into great field position. It was a great pass by Tanah Boyd to Kelly, who again set up another player for a try. This time it was Phillip Sami who was able to score a great try but it wasn’t over for the Bulldogs.

After the Titans gave away a six again, the Bulldogs were able to shift the ball down the field and Cotric was able to score in the corner.

HALF-TIME: Gold Coast Titans 18 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10

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2nd Half

After Dylan Napa was sent to the sin bin after a “high” shot to Jarrod Wallace, Wallace crashed over for the first try of the second half.

Kevin Proctor was also put on report and Beau Fermor was sent to the sin bin in a second half where there wasn’t much happening until the Bulldogs scored a great try in the corner.

After Fermor was sent to the bin, the Bulldogs shifted the ball well, starting from their halves: a great cut-out pass from Brandon Wakeham led to Nick Meaney scoring a very important try for the Bulldogs in the corner.

A costly penalty from the Titans gave the Bulldogs all the momentum and they were able to score another try. Jake Averillo was able to put Luke Thompson over the line and get that much closer to the Titans.

But it didn’t matter as Brimson sealed the game with the match-winning try and showed Titans fans why they should be excited for the next five years.

FULL-TIME: Gold Coast Titans 30 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20

Injuries

to be advised

Match Review Committee

Chris Smith (Bulldogs) – Grade 1 Crusher Tackle – Early Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban
Esan Marsters (Titans) – Grade 1 Dangerous Contact Head/Neck – Early Plea $1150 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1500 fine
Sione Katoa (Bulldogs) – Grade 1 Crusher Tackle – Early Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban
Dylan Napa (Bulldogs) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea $1350 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1800 fine
Beau Fermor (Titans) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea $1150 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1500 fine
Jamal Fogarty (Titans) – Grade 1 Dangerous Contact Head/Neck – Early Plea $1150 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1500 fine
Corey Waddell (Bulldogs) – Grade 1 Contrary Conduct – Early Plea $1150 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1500 fine

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