Despite having less points combined than the score of the two winning sides today, the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans have played out an entertaining South-East Queensland Derby which saw the Broncos take a 16-12 lead.
A lack of points in the opening forty minutes didn't dampen the entertainment of the contest as both sides went close on a number of occasions before it took the Titans scoring on the half-hour mark to break the deadlock. AJ Brimson started things for the Titans when his 60m run put the home-side into attacking position and Tanah Boyd chased through a Toby Sexton kick to open the scoring for the home-side.
The Broncos managed to get back on the scoreboard on the stroke of half-time when Delouise Hoeter had to contend with a difficult low pass from Adam Reynolds to get over in the corner which he did and got over. Adam Reynolds converted from out wide to ensure the scores were level at the break.
Question marks surround the first try of the second half with Jaimin Joliffe being awarded a try by the referee after a good run through the middle saw him get close to the line and in the officials' opinion to the line. Replays though put a question mark on whether it had got to the line but it was confirmed and after the conversion the Titans lead 12-6.
Both sides went end to end until the Broncos hit back through Jordan Pereira who crossed only tackles after being denied at close range by some strong defence. Questions surrounded with the Broncos winger had got there as a result of a double movement though replays showed no defenders were on Pereira so he was entitled to get the ball to the line. The conversion was waved away.
The Broncos then took the lead just a few minutes later when off the back of an error, the Broncos were in good field position and despite looking as if they shut down the play, the Titans couldn't stop Tyson Gamble from getting an offload to Adam Reynolds who scored. Reynolds converted his own try from in front to give the Broncos a four point lead.
It looked as if the Broncos had sealed the victory with fifteen minutes to play when Zac Hosking crossed only to have Matt Noyen in the bunker overturn the try for a double movement after the ball had hit the ground prior to Hosking stretching out to the line.
The last ten minutes would be something Phillip Sami would want to forget about as he looked to put the Titans level inside the final ten minutes only to have the bunker step in as he dropped the ball as he tried to ground it. The second moment Sami would want to forget is when he elected to stop to come back infield and not just pin the ears back when he had an open line in front of him.
Despite mounting pressure, the Titans could crack the Broncos line and had to succumb to the 16-12 defeat to their Brisbane cousins.
Next weekend, the Broncos head to Parramatta to play the Eels at Parramatta on Thursday night whilst for the Titans they travel to play the Bulldogs on Sunday.