Jack Harbidge reviews the Round 18 clash as Gold Coast Titans host Parramatta Eels at CBUS Super Stadium. Here’s how the game went.
SCOREBOARD
Eels 26
Tries: Dylan Brown (9), Shaun Lane (22), Reed Mahoney (24), Haze Dunster (27), Ryan Matterson (49).
Goals: Clinton Gutherson (10, 26, 51)
Player of the Year Points
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Clinton Gutherson (Parramatta Eels)
2 pts – Ryan Matterson (Parramatta Eels)
1 pt – Haze Dunster (Parramatta Eels)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty Images1st Half
Despite the Titans getting off to the better start of the two sides, the Eels proved the first to score with Dylan Brown racing away off the back of an offload from Ryan Matterson to cross on the right hand side.
From then on, the Eels were near faultless for the rest of the half and piled the pressure on after Kevin Proctor was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle on Isaiah Papali’i. That pressure told, with Shaun Lane crossing with a one-up fifth tackle carry at the line, but Gutherson couldn’t convert from the tee.
The one-way traffic continued and Reed Mahoney crossed on the set straight after the restart and Haze Dunster followed up in exactly the same fashion on the following set. With Gutherson hit and miss off the tee, the Eels went in 20 points up at half-time.
HALF-TIME: Gold Coast Titans 0 Parramatta Eels 20
Embed from Getty Images2nd Half
Following a five-minute stint of effort from the Titans, the Gold Coast side reverted to the soft defence that cost them in the first half and Matterson coasted in to score off the back of a chain of offloads from the Eels’ right edge.
Parramatta continued to be dangerous until halfway through the second stanza, where they relaxed and the home side took advantage. Brian Kelly found himself on the end of an exquisite cut-out ball from Ash Taylor and finished it off with ease to cut the lead to 22 points.
With Parramatta now on the back foot, the Titans capitalised once more and crossed just five minutes later through David Fifita. The replacement kicker Patrick Herbert, however, couldn’t get near converting either try.
The Titans continued to press for a comeback but came up fruitless, apart from at the final whistle where David Fifita pounced on a loose ball to run in under the posts, only for the Bunker to overturn the try.
FULL-TIME: Gold Coast Titans 8 Parramatta Eels 26
Injuries
to be advised
Match Review Committee
to be advised
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