The Titans win their final round clash 27-26 in golden point after the Warriors led 26-12 early in the second half.
MATCHDAY RESULTS
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand Warriors 26
Tries: Jesse Arthars (4), Josh Curran 2 (7, 35), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (13), Viliami Vailea (52)
Goals: Reece Walsh 2 (6, 8), Chanel Harris-Tavita (53)
Gold Coast Titans 27
Tries: AJ Brimson (28), Beau Fermor (44), Jayden Campbell (73), Paul Turner (75)
Goals: Tanah Boyd 5 (30, 45, 74, 75, 79)
Field Goal: Tanah Boyd (83)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesTanah Boyd has capped off the Titans second half comeback with a match winning field goal in golden point to win the game 27-26 over the Warriors.
Boyd from beyond thirty metres out made clean contact to give the Titans a sensational victory after trailing 26-12 thirteen minutes after half-time.
It all went awry for the Warriors when departing fullback Reece Walsh was forced from the field sixteen minutes after half-time with injured ribs.
But it would take until seven minutes before full-time, and some individual brilliance from Jayden Campbell to bring the Titans within eight points.
Beau Fermor in the next set found ex-Warrior Paul Turner on the inside to bring the score within two points, before Tohu Harris’ high tackle landed him on report and allowed Boyd to level scores at 26-all.
Daejarn Asi had the first shot at field goal in golden point with his attempt going wide and giving the Titans a seven-tackle set after the ball was caught in goal.
The Titans win spoiled the final Warriors homecoming game of 2022 in a match where the home side dominated the opening fifteen minutes in racing out to a sixteen-point lead.
Walsh was heavily involved in the Warriors success, finding Arthurs on a cut-out pass for the opening try before setting up Josh Curran for the first of his two tries. When Dallin Watene-Zelezniak went over for the Warriors third it looked like the Titans had raised the white flag early.
The tide started to turn just before the break when the Titans finally got field position and improved their ball handling, with AJ Brimson crossing for their first.
Behind 20-6 at the break, the Titans score the all-important first try of the second half after the Warriors short drop-out bounced into the hands of Fermor who went over untouched.
The Warriors hit back through a solo try to Viliami Vailea after putting a step on some poor Titans defence from a scrum win thirty metres out from his line.
From there, the Titans played more desperate footy, demonstrated in their final try where they kept the ball alive on the last as Turner scored to reduce the Warriors lead to two points.
Both sides end 2022 with six wins and eighteen losses, with the Titans points differential (-205) trumping the Warriors (-292) who may finish send last pending the Knights result against the Sharks on Sunday.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Beau Fermor (Titans), 2 pts – Jayden Campbell (Titans), 1 pt – Tanah Boyd (Titans)
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