Gold Coast Titans picked up their fifth win of the season in a 30-20 success against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs this afternoon at Robina.
It wasn't a vintage performance but after being flogged last week, Gold Coast Titans survived a late Bulldogs raid to get themselves back in the winner's circle with recently re-signed AJ Brimson the headliner with a double.
Livewire fullback AJ Brimson re-signed at the Titans for five years during the week and he showed his worth tonight. Brimson opened the scoring off a wonderful Brian Kelly grubber then bookended the win supporting Moeaki Fotuaika to make it 30-20.
Looking at the scoreline, it seems a standard win for the home side. Gold Coast Titans were forced to dig deep when Beau Farmor was sent to the sin-bin. Bulldogs pulled themselves back within four points through Luke Thompson but the Titans held on in another chaotic game.
When Tino Fa'asuamaleaui steamed over for the Titans second for 12-nil, it looked another long day for the visitors. They only scored once more in the first half through Phillip Sami after a sublime Kelly flick pass, taking an eight point lead into the break.
Bulldogs were their own worst enemy again at times today but there were some positive signs. Chris Smith got them on the board off some quick hands then just before half-time marquee signing Nick Cotric powered over to give the cellar dwellers hope.
Sin bins loomed large in the second half, Dylan Napa clipped Jarrod Wallace high and was marched in the 45th minute. From the resulting set, Wallace twisted over to extend the Titans lead to 24-10 but the home side were unable to make any further inroads with the advantage.
Canterbury did similar when Fermor was binned for another innocuous shot on a Bulldog. Nick Meaney was left in acres of space on the left wing and strolled across for 24-14 then Thompson gave them some late drama when he reduced the deficit to four. It was another loss for the Bulldogs who remain rock bottom.
The Titans added some late gloss through Brimson but it was an average performance from a side with higher ambitions in 2021. Gold Coast sit in eighth position and travel to Coffs Harbour next week to face the Cronulla while the Bulldogs have the unenviable task of facing Penrith.