The Gold Coast Titans were looking to move into fourth place if they were able to send the Brisbane Broncos to a second straight defeat.
Result
Brisbane Broncos 43
Tries: (7) Jordan Riki 15th; Herbie Farnworth 39th; Reece Walsh 50th; Jesse Arthars 55th; Kurt Capewell 63rd; Ezra Mam 66th; Selwyn Cobbo 75th.
Goals: (7) Adam Reynolds 16th, 51st, 57th, 61st, 65th, 67th, 76th
Field Goal: (1) Adam Reynolds 79th
Gold Coast Titans 26
Tries: (4) Phillip Sami 4th; Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22nd, 79th; Kruise Leeming 69th
Goals: (3) Tanah Boyd 5th, 23rd, 70th, 80th
Report
The local derby between the Titans and Broncos attracted a sell-out crowd at CBUS Super Stadium with the home side looking to elevate themselves into the top four having beaten St George-Illawarra on Easter Sunday. Brisbane was looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season at the hands of Canberra last weekend.
The Titans threw everything at the Broncos in the first half with Moeaki Fotuaika and David Fifita leading from the front, while Jayden Campbell scrambled in defence and injected himself into the game in attack.
They looked like heading into the sheds 14-6 ahead at half-time but Reece Walsh’s charge down of Campbell’s kick saw Herbie Farnworth run away to score and the deficit cut to four points.
Brisbane had a lot to improve on as they completed at only 66% in the first half and as a result allowed the Gold Coast to have 56% of the ball.
Similarly, the bounce of the ball fell Jordan Riki’s way after half time after charging down Kieran Foran’s kick. Walsh was on hand to score shortly after and but the Broncos in front with 30 minutes to go.
Walsh’s injected himself into the game in the second half, sending the Broncos on a scoring spree.
When referee Todd Smith sent Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to the sin bin for repeated infringements at the hour mark, Brisbane was able to take full advantage as the score ballooned out to 36-14.
Selwyn Cobbo got on the scoresheet for the Broncos before Kruise Leeming scored his first NRL try, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira completed a double.
The win saw Brisbane finish round 7 as outright leaders while the Titans are at the bottom of a logjam of teams sitting on eight points.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Reece Walsh (Broncos)
2 – Jordan Riki (Broncos)
1 – Jayden Campbell (Titans)
