Titans take-down injury ravaged Panthers

The Gold Coast Titans have won back-to-back home games for the first time this season with a 36-18 win over the Penrith Panthers in front 11,591 at Skilled Park.

Boosted by the return of captain Scott Prince and their Origin stars, the Titans dominated the match from the opening whistle as they forced their way through the Panthers line and dominated the metre battle.

While the homeside were boosted by the return of their captain and their Origin stars the bad news started early for the Panthers with four players ruled out including NSW utility Luke Lewis.

The Titans opened up the scoring early through Aiden Sezer who scored on the back of the towering bomb from Prince. Prince added the extras.

The Panthers were given opportunities to hit back over the next passage of play, but the Titans defence was too strong as they kept the Panthers on the back foot.

Prince was the hero again in the 29th minute, when he took an intercept 20 out from his own try line before putting David Mead into space. Mead streaked away to score. Prince added the extras.

The Titans were over again in the 35th minute when Laclan Coote lost the ball 40 out from the Titans line. Prince's boot was on the money again.

After the break, the homeside took off where they left, with Sezer diving over in the 45th minute to extend the Titans' lead.

The home side were over again only five minutes later through Brenton Lawrence before Arana Taumata scored the Panthers first points of the match. 

The Titans hit back 10 minutes later through Luke O'Dwyer who scored after on the back of a Mead break down the right touchline before the Panthers came back with two late consolation tries.

The Titans have now won four of their last five matches and are only four competition points out of the top eight. They head to Win Stadium next weekend to take on the out-of-form Dragons. 

As for the Panthers, they host the Eels next weekend. 


More to follow.

Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 36 defeated Penrith Panthers 18
National Rugby League - Round 15 - Sunday June 17, 2012 2:00pm
Venue: Skilled Park
Referee: Gerard Sutton and Phil Haines
Video Referee: Rod Lawrence
Touch Judges: Dave Abood and Grant Atkins
Crowd:  11,591 
Halftime: Gold Coast Titans 18 Penrith Panthers 0

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Scott Prince
2 Points - David Mead
1 Point - Brenton Lawrence

GOLD COAST TITANS (36)
Tries: Steve Michaels, Luke O'Dwyer, David Mead, Brenton Lawrence, Aidan Sezer (2)
Conversions: Scott Prince (6/6)

PENRITH PANTHERS (18)
Tries: Cameron Ciraldo, Arana Taumata, Ryan Simpkins
Conversions: Luke Walsh (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good afternoon NRL fans and welcome to Skilled Park where the Gold Coast Titans take on the Penrith Panthers.
We have beautiful clear conditions on the Gold Coast at the moment and the sun should be out for the entirety of today's match.
There are couple of late changes to get through. For the homeside Jamal Idris is out of this afternoon's match and will be replaced by Steve Michaels. Nate Myles will back up from Origin but will be coming off the bench with Matt White taking his place in the starting side.
The visitors have announced several key late changes to their side for this afternoon: Josh Mansour, Sam McKendry, Travis Burns and Luke Lewis are all out of this afternoon's match and will be replaced by Lachlan Coote, Harry Seijka, Dayne Weston and Ryan Simpkins. Chris Armit and Arana Taumata join the bench.
1 min: The Panthers receive first possession.
3 min: Scott Prince goes to the air from halfway on the last and Lachlan Coote makes a mess of it, but the Panthers clean up and are off the hook.
4 min: Titans are on the attack after Prince puts David Mead into space.
5 min: Coote diffuses Prince's bomb on this occasion only to be hit by Ashley Harrison who is pinned for being in front of the kicker.
5 min: Simpkins knocks on 40 out from the Titans' line.
Beau Champion has come off the field and is in the change rooms receiving treatment.
10 min: Possible try to the Titans after Kevin Gordon successfully contests a Prince bomb!
12 min: TRY
TRY! Aiden Sezer scores for the Titans courtesy of a Prince bomb. Prince adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0
15 min: Michael Jennings makes an 80 metre break on the back of a Titans' lost ball.
15 min: Panthers receive a penalty 10 out from the Titans' line.
16 min: Weston knocks on 10 out from the Titans' line and the homeside is off the hook.
21 min: The Titans are finishing all their sets deep in Panthers' territory.
23 min: Titans get a tackle restart 20 out from the Panthers' line.
24 min: The Titans receive a penalty 10 out.
25 min: Prince forces a line drop out.
26 min: Aiden Sezer puts up a crossfield chip on the last and Sandor Earls takes it on the field in-goal.
26 min: The Panthers receive a penalty.
30 min: TRY
TRY! Prince takes an intercept 20 out from his own line after Nigel Plum busts through the Titans' defence. Prince puts David Mead in a gap and Mead races away to score. Prince adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 12-0
32 min: Titans receive a penalty on halfway after the kick off goes out on the full.
33 min: Mark Minichiello loses the ball a few metres out from the Panthers' line.
34 min: Brenton Lawrence loses the ball 40 out from the Panthers' line.
37 min: TRY
TRY! Steve Michaels scores under the posts after Lachlan Coote loses the ball 40 out from the Titans' line. Prince adds the extras from right in front.
Gold Coast Titans 18-0
40 min: Mead bats the ball over the dead ball line and that's the half.
41 min: Coote kicks off to bring us under way in the second half.
42 min: Danny Galea loses the ball 40 out from the Titans' line.
45 min: Titans run it on the last and it pays off with a tackle count restart 10 out from the Panthers' line.
47 min: TRY
TRY! Prince draws in some defenders before putting Sezer through a gap for his second try. Prince converts.
Gold Coast Titans 24-0
50 min: TRY
TRY! The Titans are over again after Lawrenc slices through the Panthers' defence. Prince adds the extras from right in front.
Gold Coast Titans 30-0
55 min: Coote kicks out on the full and the Titans will go on the attack.
58 min: The Panthers are right on the attack after back to back penalties.
60 min: TRY
TRY! Luke Walsh kicks into the in goal and Arana Taumata manages to ground the ball just inside the dead ball line. Walsh adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 30-6
63 min: Titans get a tackle count restart 20 out from the Panthers' line.
64 min: The ball is stripped from Minichiello in the act of scoring and the Panthers are off the hook.
70 min: TRY
TRY! Zilman throws a long pass out to his winger Mead who finds space down the left touchline. Mead races 40 metres before offloading to Luke O'Dwyer who scores. Prince converts.
Gold Coast Titans 36-6
74 min: Brad Tighe makes a break down the left touchline and O'Dwyer saves the day for the Panthers by bringing Tighe down 20 metres out.
75 min: TRY
TRY! The Titans struggle to re-set their line after the break by Tighe and Cameron Ciraldo just slices through the Titans defence. Walsh adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 36-12
76 min: The Titans are on the attack after the Panthers cough it up from the kick off.
78 min: The Panthers survive.
78 min: Panthers are on the attack after a Walsh chip and chase on halfway.
80 min: TRY
TRY! Simpkins strolls over for a try. Walsh adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 36-18
80 min: Lawrence diffuses a Tighe chip kick and that's the ball game. The Titans defeat the Panthers 36-18 in a very one-sided contest.