Full-Time: Warriors 28 def Titans 18.
Wahs will run out the clock.
Johnson misses.
The Titans failed to find an answer and Johnson again put boot to ball and AKP couldn’t collect it as DWZ collected the loose ball for number 2.
Titans get it back through Keano Kini.
Johnson converts. 24-18.
FORGET THE ONE when you can get FOUR! 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.
PENALTY WAHS: High shot on DWZ by Erin Clark.
Ford takes it brilliantly.
That was abysmal from the Wahs on the last.
SJ forces Kini in the in-goal. Line restart to come.
Challenge successful. SJ kept the ball.
Warriors lose it. But, we're going to the video referee for a captain's challenge.
AKP bats it dead, line-dropout to come.
Adam Pompey placed on report for crusher tackle.
Boyd's kick at goal is... GOOD! It's 18-18!
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 could be locked up at 18-18.
JAYDEN CAMPBELL!
Taine Tuaupiki splits them off the kick return. Golden chance for the Wahs.
Metcalf inspired by Phil Blake with the chip and chase but the bounce abandoned the young 5/8.
Considering the Titans have been down to 12 since minute 17, the Wahs are looking the more fatigued side at chances.
PENALTY WAHS - Inside 10m on kick chase. Still great mark by Taine Tuaupiki.
Jayden Campbell is a freak at the back!
Inch perfect for Boyd. Change-Over for the Wahs.
Just starting to see the Warriors fatiguing in the middle here.
Campbell adds the extras.
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.
Boyd splits them!
Tevaga spills it.
PENALTY WAHS: Inside 10m
Boyd taken on the last and it's a change-over.
PENALTY WAHS: Walker hits him high.
PENALTY TITANS: Offside from scrum.
Montoya loses it on the way down, always looked a contest live and it's the way Cummins rules it.
Jayden Campbell trying to spark the home side here.
Cummins has called it back for a forward pass. I saw Cummins peel back on the chase of Metcalf which meant it was coming back.
Johnson converts.
Johnson this time turned provider with an inside pass to Jackson Ford who crossed out on the left edge.
AKP loses it! Wahs get six more
Back underway for the second half, a reminder the Titans are playing with 12 men.
HT - Warriors 12 leading Titans 6.
NO TRY!
Johnson again takes advantage of the 12 men side. It looked as if he ran behind his own man before unloading to DWZ. We're off to the BUNKER!
Kelly gets it away on the last. Campbell puts a kick away and the Wahs hang on.
Titans looking for a try before the break.
Montoya puts it down. Titans scrum.
Johnson converts and it's 12-6.
Five out from 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.
Warriors back marching up field.
Metcalf threw it about 3 metres forward to Harris.
Warriors on the attack!
Kelly loses it from the scrum. Considering how the evening has gone so far, that plays sums it up.
Pass was knocked down by the Wahs. Titans retain the footy.
Wahs complete their set as Niukore returns from the bin.
SJ converts for 6-6.
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.
Whistle has gone - AKP didn't hear the whistle and he turns around to see it's NO TRY.
SIX AGAIN WAHS - Inside 10m.
Titans fail to work it out of their own end.
Boyd converts and it's 6-0. All of a sudden we can BREATHE!
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.
SIX AGAIN TITANS: Inside 10m
Titans get it back.
Boyd puts in a good kick and it'll be a goal-line dropout.
Ben Cummins has had enough...
Niukore is sent to the sin-bin for striking.
Ben Cummins has lost absolute control of this game and we have an hour to go...
PENALTY TITANS: Second effort.
Challenge successful - Titans hold on again and retain possession.
Titans have knocked on here. Challenge here from the Titans.
Taine Tuaupiki has been automatically activated as the 18th man.
Titans down to 12.
Moe Fotuaika has been SENT OFF!
Mo Fotuaika might be in a bit of trouble here.
PENALTY WARRIORS: High shot from Stimson.
Both sides definitely getting physical here. CNK has been hammered and he's on big discomfort here.
Warriors can't turn attacking field position into points. Execution leaving a lot to be desired here.
PENALTY WARRIORS: Second effort - Rocco Berry was off the mark (hence no quick tap).
Chris Randall is on report - now considering Nathan Brown was SENT yesterday for direct contact to the head... that's one that should've at MINIMUM been sin binned. Kasey Badger in the bunker for those playing along at home.
Both sides spill possession within mere seconds of each-other. Warriors are going to challenge for the moment.
Ford loses the ball. Titans hanging on here well.
Bunker overturns Ben Cummins' call and it'll be a 7 tackle set.
Boyd again forces a drop-out. Clever stuff from the Titans in the early stages here.
Warriors didn't know it's the last and as a result. Mitch Barnett is SWARMED and they'll turn it over.
Short drop-out works for the Warriors. They get it back and work it away from their own line.
Good kick from Tanah Boyd and it'll be a line dropout.
PENALTY TITANS: Second effort against Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Jackson Ford dragged down metres from the line. On the ensuing play, the crash ball was ineffective. Looked as if Campbell was offside but the replays had him just onside.
SIX AGAIN WARRIORS - Not square at marker.
Adam Pompey down on half-way here. Not good stuff for the Warriors here.
Both sides able to get through their first sets of the contest.
We're underway! Round 23 of the NRL season and your Friday night of rugba league is underway!
Late drama - Brimson hurt in warm-up. Jayden Campbell to FB, Aaron Schoupp to centre and Keano Kini is on the bench.
Referee tonight is Ben Cummins, Michael Wise and Jarrod Cole have the flags while the woman in the bunker is Kasey Badger.
Round 23 gets into overdrive with the critical match between Gold Coast and New Zealand. The Titans and Wahs have been impressive in recent weeks, with both sides keen to make their finals charges - at different levels of the top 8. Shuffle city for the home side with Schoupp and Verrills going back to the bench. Jayden Campbell and Chris Randall earn starts. 18. Keano Kini is culled with Jacob Allick being the concussion sub. Just the one change for the Wahs with 15. Bunty Afoa missing out, a welcome return for Jazz Tevaga on the bench with Taine Tuaupiki the concussion sub.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Ben Cummins
Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Jarrod Cole
Video Referee: Kasey Badger
GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: David Fifita, Joe Stimson, Jayden Campbell
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (2/2), Jayden Campbell (1/1)
WARRIORS (28)
Tries: Shaun Johnson (2), Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (4/5)