Gold Coast Titans took the points 38-34 in a open game of football against the Melbourne Storm at Robina on Saturday afternoon.
That was the Titans second win of the campaign and another classic between them and the Storm on the Gold Coast. These two teams endured the hot conditions and played some open football which entertained the crowd.
It was a warm afternoon on the Gold Coast and the action matched the temperature in the first half. Both teams came with an intention of playing some footy which was wonderful to watch.
The Titans, like they did last week in Kogarah, started fast. It was a break from their own end which involved Brian Kelly and AJ Brimson before youngster Alofiana Khan-Pereira dived over.
The Storm hit back through the man making his debut for the club today. Five-eighth Jonah Pezet with the show-and-go to race away for his first four-pointer in the NRL to make it 8-6.
Straight from the drinks break, Titans made their lead six. Kieran Foran showed off his skillset with a cut-out pass which left Khan-Pereira one-on-one with a defender and left them clutching air and gave the winger a double.
Foran went from the penthouse to the outhouse in one play, dropping the kick-off. It gave the Storm room for Nick Meany to roll over for a try and his conversion levelled things up at 12-all.
Storm hit the lead for the first time right on the half hour mark. Interchange forward Tariq Sims, almost on his first touch, sliced through the defence and made it 18-12 to the visitors.
You couldn't keep Meaney out of the scoring today. Storm found their rhythm and were finding holes in the Titans defense which isn't the most robust. He tackled himself from the line break then backed up well and nudged over for 24-12.
Titans brought the deficit back to six just before the break. Brimson punched a kick low which allowed Kelly to wait for the bounce and score a vital four-pointer to set up the second half.
The hosts got the perfect start to the second half. A good hit from Tino Fa'asuamaleaui forced it free and Jo Vuna had a saloon passage to the line to level the game up again.
It felt like deja vu as the Titans led again. Jahrome Hughes spilled the ball on the attack, it fell right into the lap of Aaron Schoupp who had no one in front of him for 30-24.
Much like the first half, Titans strode out to an eight point advantage after a late hit on Tanah Boyd. The halfback stepped up again, piloted through the conversion and made it 32-24.
Defense was optional in the sun today. Storm refused to go away and marched down the field with a pair of penalties that led to Jahrome Hughes finding a gap close to the posts to make the margin four.
AJ Brimson produced some magic to salt the game away for the Titans. He rose highest for a kick, flung it behind him and Schoupp was able to clean up and make it 38-34.
There was some late drama when Xavier Coates got the Storm within four again. He was able to touch down a Harry Grant kick just inside the deadball line to give us a big finish.