The New Zealand Warriors have overcome a brave 12 men Gold Coast Titans side in one of the most bizarre Friday Night Football matches in recent seasons.
The home side suffered a horror blow in the dying moments of warm-up when AJ Brimson pulled out, which saw Jayden Campbell revert back to fullback.
Both sides had early chances, Jackson Ford was dragged down metres from the line. On the ensuing play, the crash ball was ineffective. After some tense early moments, the referees' and Bunker's high tackle interpretation came into question. Chris Randall was only put on report for a high tackle after the Warriors challenged a knock-on ruling, the replays showed he was lucky to remain on the field 14 minutes in.
Three minutes later the controversy reached DefQon levels, Mo Fotuaika wasn't so lucky when he collected Chanze Nicoll-Klokstad high and left him in Disney Land. Fotuaika was sent from the field by Ben Cummins after an extensive delay which saw CNK come from the field and fail to return.
After the following set where the Titans hung on their own line, David Fifita initiated contact with Marata Niukore before the Warriors back-rower slapped back. Niukore was quickly dispatched to the bin for "striking". After winning his side a penalty down the other end of the field. Fifita went on his own out of acting half to cross for the first try of the evening. Tanah Boyd converted for an unlikely lead for the 12 men Titans side.
That lead didn't last long, however. Off the back of some rare field position, the Warriors were able to bounce back 13 minutes out from the break. Shaun Johnson continued his career reboot with some sensational footwork to beat the cover defence to score a great individual try. Johnson converted for a 6-6 ball game and it looked like the Warriors were taking control.
Just before the break, the visitors who had vocal crowd support split the Titans open. Johnson broke through some would-be tacklers before linking up with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. DWZ got a magical ball back inside to Johnson to cross for his second try who converted his own try for a 12-6 lead. The Warriors thought they had a third on half-time but were pulled back by the Bunker for obstruction and it remained 12-6 at the break.
Gold Coast started the second half in disastrous fashion, Lofi Khan-Pereria spilt the bomb from the Warriors' first set of the second half giving the visitors prime field position. Johnson this time turned provider with an inside pass to Ford who crossed out on the left edge after being denied early in the game. Johnson converted from an easy distance to make it a two-possession lead for the visitors.
That comfortable margin didn't last long due to a combination of ill-discipline and sloppy ball handling against a 12-man Titans side. Tanah Boyd looked damaging for the home side and he split the Warriors open. From the ensuing tackle, Campbell grubber kicked for Joe Stimson who grounded the ball brilliantly in the in-goal. Campbell converted while Boyd was treated for a shoulder injury and it was back to a 6-point game.
With 15 minutes to go, the Warriors were looking to seal the deal. Johnson's crossfield kick was initially batted back to Ford before his pass was picked off by Campbell who sprinted the best part of 90 metres to score. We were locked up at 18-18 after Boyd's conversion, although the Bunker seemingly missed a knock-on from the contest by Aaron Schoupp.
After a rare sabbatical in the chaos. Both sides scrambled to find the killer blow. It took a great crash pass from Wayde Egan to find Tohu Harris and the big fella crashed over for his maiden try of 2023 and with Johnson's conversion it was 24-18. The Titans failed to find an answer and Johnson again put a boot to the ball and AKP couldn't collect it as DWZ collected the loose ball for number 2 and a comfortable 10-point lead.