Comeback Titans slay Eels

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The Gold Coast Titans have come from 14 points behind to defeat the Parramatta Eels 28-22 at Skilled Park in front of 12,047 fans.

Parramatta opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a Chris Sandow penalty goal, before the Titans crossed in the 14th through debutant back Anthony Don, with stand-in goalkicker Beau Henry converting the Titans' first try for a 6-2 lead. Henry added a penalty goal a few minutes later for the hosts to lead by a converted try.

An Eels fightback followed, with the visitors crossing twice and potting a penalty goal to find themselves 16-8 leaders after 28 minutes. Jarryd Hayne & Ryan Morgan were the scorers, both benefiting from some brilliance by halfback Chris Sandow and captain & lock Reni Maitua.

The Eels looked to extend their comfortable lead to 14 points after the break when Jarryd Hayne took a Luke Kelly bomb and scored under the posts. From 22-8 in front, Parramatta looked unbeatable... but funny things happen in rugby league.

On the back of several penalties, the Titans dominated possession and field position for long periods. Ashley Harrison scored from close range for the Titans with 24 minutes remaining, before Beau Henry's conversion and another penalty goal saw the home side back within six points.

Scores were levelled at the 67th minute when Mark Minichiello barged his way across the line, then Albert Kelly put his side in front minutes later for an unlikely six-point lead.

Outspoken Eels coach Ricky Stuart blasted officials in his post-match press conference, labelling the penalty count "bullshit" and "unfair".

With a fortnight to rest, the Titans will gear up for a Sunday afternoon clash with Newcastle in Round 7. Parramatta have a full fifteen days to prepare for their Monday night derby with the Penrith Panthers at Centrebet Stadium.

Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 28 Parramatta Eels 22
Venue: Skilled Park
Crowd: 12,047
Halftime Score: Eels 16-8

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Greg Bird
2 points - Jarryd Hayne
1 point - William Zillman

GOLD COAST TITANS (28)
Tries: Anthony Don, Ashley Harrison, Mark Minichiello, Albert Kelly
Conversions: Beau Henry (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Beau Henry (2/2)

PARRAMATTA EELS (22)
Tries: Jarryd Hayne (2), Ryan Morgan
Conversions: Chris Sandow (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Chris Sandow (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Skilled Park this evening, as the 6th placed Gold Coast Titans host the 12th placed Parramatta Eels.
For the Gold Coast Titans, a bit of a reshuffle in the backline - Jamal Idris moves to the second row, Anthony Don comes from the bench into the starting side, David Mead moves to the vacant centre spot, and Beau Falloon is out. Ashley Harrison appears to have moved to hooker, and Sam Irwin moves onto the interchange bench.
For the eels, Cheyse Blair is out, Jacob Loko comes into the side in the centres. Fuifui Moimoi comes into the starting side as prop in place of Mitchel Allgood (who goes to the bench), and Kelepi Tanginoa comes into the starting side, with Joseph Paulo also moving to the bench.
And we're underway tonight here at Skilled Park.
2 min: A slow start here for both teams, no-one asserting themselves in either attack or defense.
2 min: Paramatta now in a position to attack, deep in Gold Coast territory, but nothing comes of it.
4 min: Scrum to Parramatta, 10 metres inside Gold Coast territory, after an Ashley Harrison knock-on.
4 min: Eels looking good here - a well placed kick from Sandow into the in goal is tidied up by William Zillman, and the Gold Coast have the ball.
6 min: Nate Myles tackles Luke Kelly after he kicks the ball. Penalty to the Parramatta Eels. On replay, it appears that Luke Kelly is inline for an Oscar, as he milked that as much as anyone ever has.
7 min: Chris Sandow slots the kick directly over the black dot, and Parramatta take an early lead.
Parramatta Eels 2-0
9 min: Parramatta attempt a 40/20, but William Zillman is again there to tidy up, catching the ball on the full and returning it strongly.
9 min: Zillman makes a break down field, with only the fullback to beat, and Hayne cleans him up in a brilliant tackle. A poor 5th tackle option sees Parramatta get the ball easily.
12 min: A bit of hot Potato here from the Gold Coast Titans - everyone on field appears to have touched the ball in that set. On the 5th, Jarryd Hayne goes up to defuse the bomb, and makes an absolute mess of it. He attempted to catch the ball AFL style, and instead, dropped it cold.
13 min: And as a direct result, Anthony Don scores a try in the corner - a try in his debut game. Nothing fancy about it, just quick hands, a simple misdirection and some poor defensive reads. Beau Henry adds the extras, and the Gold Coast leads 6-2.

TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Anthony Don. Conversion attempt by Beau Henry successful.
Gold Coast Titans 6-2
17 min: Titans on attack again, a wide backline play. Nate Myles throws a pass, and is hit in a late shoulder charge by Fuifui Moimoi. Myles is on the ground, not moving, and clutching his arm.
17 min: Myles is on his feet again. Still looks a bit dusty.
17 min: The Parramatta Eels are penalised for offside, and Beau Henry lines up for a penalty goal, right in front. No surprise, he slots it straight over the black dot.
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Penalty goal attempt by Beau Henry successful.
Gold Coast Titans 8-2
Parramatta Eels score a brilliant try. Reni Matuia sets himself up with a show and go, gets to the fullback, kicks back infield, and Jarryd Hayne is all over it - scoring in the middle of the field. Sandow lines up the kick and skims the inside of the post to convert.
TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Jarryd Hayne. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
The Gold Coast Titans get penalised again, and Chris Sandow slots the penalty goal. Parramatta take the lead.
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PARRAMATTA EELS
Penalty goal attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
26 min: Sandow kicks downfield, and Kevin Gordon makes a massive clanger, dropping an absolute sitter of a catch. Parramatta get the scrum feed, 10 metres out from the Titans' line.
28 min: Some brilliant work by Chris Sandow leads to a try. Sandow uses two decoy runners, and then throws the ball to Ryan Morgan. Some poor defense from the Titans' outside backs. Sandow adds the extras.
TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Ryan Morgan. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
31 min: A bit of scuffle here between the two sides, after Ryan James drops the ball. Replays show Darcy Lussick throwing a quick jab and hitting James in the jaw.
33 min: 7 minutes till half time - Parramatta looking good when they have the ball, and they have had most of it for the past 15 minutes.
36 min: Gold Coast on attack but can't convert the possession into points. Parramatta watch the ball run dead, and it's a 20m tap. Ken Sio takes the quick tap, runs into Ryan James, and spends the next few minutes looking out his ears. He got smashed.
40 min: A bit of feeling has crept into this game over the past few minutes. Darcy Lussick seems to want to take Ryan James on at every opportunity, which should make some scrums in the second half interesting...
40 min: Both teams getting ready to return from the halftime break - should hopefully see some solid contact in the opening few minutes of the second half, if the last few minutes of the first half are anything to go by.
41 min: We're one minute into the second half, and we've already had a penalty. Gold Coast Titans kick for touch, and will work the ball into the Parramatta's danger zone.
42 min: Next set, and Parramatta attempt to work it out from deep in their own half.
43 min: Parramatta again kick down field towards Kevin Gordon, and this time he manages to catch it on the full.
43 min: A Gold Coast mistake, with the ball thrown directly into another player's head. Ken Sio cleans up, and the Eels are on attack.
45 min: Yet another Gold Coast mistake - Minichello dropping the ball cold.
46 min: So far, this second half has been a penalty-fest, this time going to the Gold Coast for an offside. Bailey takes the ball up hard, and the defenders go scattering.
48 min: Luke Kelly puts the ball high, and Jarryd Hayne sails above William Zillman to come down with the ball and score the try. One of the most well-placed bombs I've seen in a long time. From under the posts Chris Sandow adds the extras.
Parramatta Eels 22-8
50 min: Chris Sandow attempts a 40/20, but puts a bit too much on it, and kicks it out on the full.
52 min: Yet another penalty going to the Gold Coast Titans. They need to start putting points on soon if they want to remain in the game.
54 min: Another piece of brilliance from Hayne, reeling in a kick one handed to defuse an attacking situation on the last tackle. Parramatta have the ball.
56 min: Gold Coast heavily on attack - Greg Bird stretches out but falls about 6 inches short. But on the last tackle, a little reverse, and a change of angle sees Ashley Harrison score. Beau Henry adds the two points from 15 metres in from touch.
Parramatta Eels 22-14
60 min: Tim Mannah gets penalised for hitting Beau Henry late, and to add injury to insult, there's a headclash and Mannah's head comes out second best. Beau Henry might be challenging for that Oscar...
60 min: Beau Henry recovers miraculously from his head clash, and pots the Penalty goal.
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Penalty goal attempt by Beau Henry successful.
Parramatta Eels 22-16
64 min: Fuifui Moimoi hits Nate Myles in the face with his shoulder in a massive high tackle.
67 min: The Gold Coast take the tap from the resulting penalty, and Mark Minichiello crashes over the line through some soft defense. Henry again converts, and we're all locked up here at Skilled Park.
22 all
71 min: And the Gold Coast Titans go in again - back to back tries. The Titans put a bomb up from 40 metres out, a horrible kick, and then a solid chase sees Kelly come up with the ball and dart over to score under the posts. Beau Henry converts again and the Titans take the lead!
TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Albert Kelly. Conversion attempt by Beau Henry successful.
Gold Coast Titans 28-22
77 min: Parramatta on attack, and force a line drop out. The dropout is a good one, carrying 55 metres on the fly, before landing on Sandow's chest. Two plays later, and attempted set play saw Loko drop the ball cold, effectively ruining their chances at winning this game. The Titans now have the ball, and will look to just protect their lead for the last couple of minutes of the game.
79 min: The Eels will get one last set of six in this game. They need to run 100 metres in one set.
79 min: 5 seconds left in the game, but Parramatta knock the ball on again. That pretty much sums up the Eels' second half. The Gold Coast Titans run out winners, 28 points to 22.
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