Terrific Titans slaughter Sea Eagles

The Gold Coast Titans have pulled off the upset of the season after defeating the defending premiers, the Manly Sea Eagles 26-14 in front of a 11,619 crowd at Brookvale Oval.

The homeside were in trouble before the match even kicked off, with Brett Stewart and Kieran Foran ruled out while the Titans back row were boosted by the early return of Greg Bird.

In a match which saw three players placed on report, the intensity from both sides was high in the opening minutes. However, it was the Titans who drew first blood in tenth minute, with Aidan Sezer scoring on debut.

The home side hit back only six minutes later with Jamie Lyon strolling over the try line courtesy of some clever ball play by Daly Cherry-Evans. Lyon converted his own try to level the scores.

Lyon secured the lead for his side three minutes later, with a penalty goal.

Despite being behind on the score board, the Titans appeared to hold all the momentum as they muscled up in defence to restrict the Sea Eagles' progress up the field.

The visitors proved to be as good as making meters as they were at restricting them for their opposition. A break up the field by Jamal Idris in the 26th minute saw the Titans go right on the front foot.

The Titans continued to mount pressure before Scott Prince put Idris in a gap in the 29th minute to reclaim the lead for the Titans. Prince added the extras. 

Despite a strong effort in the final ten minutes of the half, the Titans failed to get over the line again before the break. 


The Titans started the second half where they left off, absolutely the Sea Eagles in defence as the home side struggled to keep up with the intensity of their opponent.

Luke Bailey and Nate Myles were stand outs with their workloads in defence and in gaining valuable hit up meters, while Prince's boot was precise. 

The Titans were rewarded for their relentless effort with tries  to David Mead in the 52nd minute and Kevin Gordan in the 64th minute before Prince kicked two penalty goal in the final ten minutes of the match to put victory out of reach for the home side. 

A consolation try to Lyon in the 78th minute added some respectability to the scoreboard, but it was a deserved victory for the Titans who played extraordinarily well. 

It is not all good news for the Titans however, with captain Ashley Harrison and star recruit Jamal Idris both placed on report for high tackle. Manly's Darcy Lussick  was also placed on report during the game for a dangerous throw. All players are likely to miss a few matches. 

Match Details
Manly Sea Eagles 14 were defeated by Gold Coast Titans 26
National Rugby League - Round 7 - Saturday April 14, 2012 7:30pm
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Referee: Jason Robinson and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Paul Mellor
Touch Judges: Jason Walsh and Brenden Wood
Crowd: 11,619
Halftime: Manly Sea Eagles 8 Gold Coast Titans 12

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Luke Bailey
2 Points - Scott Prince (3 Conversions, 2 Penalty Goals)
1 Point - Nate Myles

MANLY SEA EAGLES (14)
Tries: Jamie Lyon (2)
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Lyon (1/1)

GOLD COAST TITANS (26)
Tries: Jamal Idris, Kevin Gordon, David Mead, Aidan Sezer
Conversions: Scott Prince (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Scott Prince (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good evening folks and welcome to Brookvale Oval where the defending premiers the Manly Sea Eagles take on the 2011 wooden spooners the Gold Coast Titans.
We have a bunch of changes from both coaches. For the home side Brett Stewart and Keiran Foran are out. Stewart will be replaced at fullback by Dean Whare while Liam Foran fills in for Keiran Foran. Daniel Harrison joins the bench. For the Titans Greg Bird makes his return, shifting Nate Myles into the front row, with Luke Douglas moving onto the bench and Matt White out of the side. Dominique Peyroux comes in for Preston Campbell.
6 min: Possible try to the Sea Eagle.
6 min: No Try! Taufua lost control of the ball
9 min: The Titans will receive a scrum on halfway.
11 min: TRY
TRY! Aidan Sezer goes straight through. Prince converts from practically right in front.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0
12 min: Nate Myles makes a 20 meter hit up and the Titans finish their set only 40 out from the Sea Eagles' line.
13 min: Daly Cherry-Evans kicks a 40/20. That's exactly what his side needed, they were really on the back foot there.
14 min: Jamie Lyon loses the ball 12 out and he hasn't got up.He appears to be knocked out.
14 min: The Sea Eagles are given a penalty and Idris is on report for the hit on Lyon.
15 min: The Sea Eagles get a penalty late in the tackle count after the Titans are pinned for being offside.
15 min: The Sea Eagles get a penalty late in the tackle count after the Titans are pinned for being offside.
17 min: TRY
TRY! Lyon strolls over for a try after Cherry-Evans kept the ball alive.
6 all
18 min: The Sea Eagles receive a penalty.
19 min: Vic Mauro is down after a high shot from Ashley Harrison on the last. Harrison is on report too.
19 min: PENALTY GOAL
The Sea Eagles opt to go for the two and Lyon adds the extras.
Manly Sea Eagles 8-6
20 min: Jorge Taufua makes a massive break for the Sea Eagles, they're 10 short of halfway after the first tackle.
21 min: Jason King loses the ball 20 out from the Titans' line in a bone crunching tackle from Luke Baily.
23 min: The Titans are right on the attack after massive break by Idris.
23 min: The Titans will get a line dropout.
24 min: Lyon saves the day for the Sea Eagles.
26 min: The Titans will get a line drop out after another strong set.
29 min: TRY
TRY! Prince puts Idris into a hole and Idris strides of the line. Prince adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 12-8
30 min: The Titans receive a relieving penalty.
31 min: Bird grubbers into the in goal on the fourth and it's easily cleaned up by the Sea Eagles.
32 min: Darcy Lussick loses the ball and the Titans will get a scrum 30 out.
33 min: Possible try to Kevin Gordon.
34 min: No try! Gordon lost control of the ball trying to ground it. Great effort by the winger though
34 min: The Sea Eagles will get a line drop out.
35 min: The Sea Eagles will get a penalty.
35 min: Steve Matai knocks on only ten out from the Titans' line.
36 min: The Titans get a penalty after Lussick is tackled for a spear tackle. He will be gone for a long time for that one.
38 min: The Titans will get a scrum on halfway after another error by the Sea Eagle.
38 min: The Titans will get a scrum on halfway after another error by the Sea Eagle.
38 min: Mark Minichiello loses the ball 30 out.
39 min: Jamie Buhrer loses the ball.
40 min: The Sea Eagles are tackled rucking it out of their own half as the half time hooter sounds.
41 min: The second half is under way.
45 min: The Titans are playing with a lot more intensity than the Sea Eagles at the moment.
48 min: The Titans will receive a piggyback up the field after the Sea Eagles are penalised for being inside the ten.
48 min: The Titans will receive a piggyback up the field after the Sea Eagles are penalised for being inside the ten.
51 min: The Titans are right on the attack again after another error from the Sea Eagles.
52 min: Possible try to the Titans!
54 min: TRY
A pin point accurate banana kick by Prince is take by David Mead who scores. Prince fails to add the extras from the right touchline.
Gold Coast Titans 16-8
57 min: The Sea Eagles will go right on the attack after the Titans cough it up in their own 10.
58 min: The Sea Eagles receive a penalty on the third tackle.
59 min: King loses the ball seven out. The Titans are counter attacking too. They have all the momentum at the moment.
60 min: Anthony Watmough loses the ball 40 out from the Titans' line.
62 min: The Titans will get a line drop out after David Williams is trapped in the in goal.
65 min: TRY
TRY! Gordon scores of a Prince chip. Prince adds the extras to give his side a 14-point lead.
Gold Coast Titans 22-8
67 min: The Titans receive a penalty and will get some good possession.
67 min: Myles loses the ball 30 out from the Sea Eagles line.
68 min: The Sea Eagles receive a penalty on halfway.
68 min: Buhrer loses the ball in the fourth tackle.
70 min: The Sea Eagles receive a penalty on half way.
71 min: The Titans are on the attack again after a penalty against Brent Kite.
72 min: Prince is held up over the line on the fourth.
72 min: The Titans receive another penalty and Prince is going for the two.
73 min: PENALTY GOAL
Prince has no problem kicking the penalty goal from right in front.
Gold Coast Titans 24-8
74 min: The Sea Eagles have opted for the Short kick off and have the ball.
75 min: Daniel Harrison loses the ball ten out and Luke O'Dwyer runs it to halfway before being brought down.
75 min: Titans receive a penalty ten out from the Sea Eagles' line.
77 min: PENALTY GOAL
The Titans opt to go for the two again and Prince adds another two-points.
Gold Coast Titans 26-8
77 min: The Sea Eagles will get a scrum 10 out after the kick off goes out.
78 min: TRY
Lyon has his double after Cherry-Evans grubbers from the back of the scrum.
Gold Coast Titans 26-14
80 min: The Titans receive a penalty on full-time and that's the match.