2021 NRL Round Three, Cowboys 8 Titans 44 – Report

Rowan Anderson reviews the Titans’ huge win in Townsville ….. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

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3 pts – David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
2 pts – AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
1 pt – Anthony Don (Gold Coast Titans)

MATCH REPORT

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1st Half

Sunday evening footy saw a true display of two teams who have two entirely different seasons ahead, when the Titans travelled to take on the Cowboys in Townsville. 

There was so much expectation on the Gold Coast boys to improve on their ninth-place finish last season and they are clicking into gear: albeit against weak opposition in this Cowboys pack and ‘bigger brother’ the Broncos, who they put away last week.

Todd Payten will have to swing the axe this week through his squad after another diabolical performance. He didn’t have much to take away after this game to say the least. The league’s weekend injury toll was also increased with the loss of lock Reuben Cotter in the 27^th minute to add to the North Queensland squads’ woes.

Off-season purchases David Fifita and big Tino are going to continue to set the benchmark and allow the talented AJ Brimson to run free; Brimson bagged a double in this game, along with captain Fogarty leading his charges across the park. 

With the loss of Ash Taylor we saw the entry of Tanah Boyd into that role and he didn’t take long to show his raw talent he has to show in this league.

The Titans put the game’s opening kick-off out on the full but it was really the only blemish in their performance, replying instantly with Brimson chasing through his own attacking grubber in the 10th minute.

Brimson had a hand in the second try, handing onto a charging Phil Sami to burst through in the 23rd minute before Sami did the same with some beautiful footwork to send Corey Thompson over in the 33rd.

Moeaki Fotuaika broke a 47-game try-scoring drought just before halftime pouncing onto a Mitch Rein short ball under the sticks.

Fogarty took a further two pointer to give his team a 26-nil advantage at the break.

HALF-TIME: North Queensland Cowboys 0 Gold Coast Titans 26

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2nd Half

Following the break a rare error from the Titans gave the home side a full set with Scott Drinkwater and Justin O’Neill setting up Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to get the home side on the board.

Drinkwater and Valentine Holmes’ combination gave Murray Tualagi a try in the 57th minute and the same combination looked to have created the young winger’s second 10 minutes later but it was overruled for an obstruction. This would be the end of scoring for the home side.

A second try for both Fifita and Thompson rounded out the scoring for the afternoon and a massive win which will surely boost confidence for coach Holbrook and his squad.

FULL-TIME: North Queensland Cowboys 8 Gold Coast Titans 44

Injuries

to be advised

Match Review Committee

to be advised

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