Gold Coast Titans won their second game of the NRL season in a 20-18 thriller against North Queensland Cowboys at Robina Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Titans did all their damage in the first half, scoring 20 points before a resolute defensive effort allowed them to hold on despite having no fit players left on their bench by the full-time whistle.
Titans were the first side on the board in this Queensland derby. It was a high tackle on fullback Keano Kini which allowed Brian Kelly to slot the penalty goal for 2-0.
The hosts held much of the ball in the first half and were able to convert. A high kick bamboozled the Cowboys defence then David Fifita shuffled it onto Jojo Fifita to get a four-pointer.
It was a double feature for the Fifita name in the first half. David burrowed over from close range to cap off a big week for the representative forward and make it 14-0 Titans.
The Titans rounded off their superb first half effort with a fourth try. AJ Brimson scooped the ball up from a quick play the ball from a forward and wrestled his way over.
Cowboys weren't at the races in the first half, with errors and penalties costing them field position. Their closest chance to get on the board was through Semi Valemi but it was chalked off for obstruction.
There was a resolute mantra about the Titans defence tonight. First, Kyle Feldt was denied on the right and then Valemi was bundled into touch on the left side by the defence.
They did get on the board at the hour mark. Chad Towsend kicked behind the Titans defence and Jeremiah Nanai was on hand to take the room service bounce and make it 20-6.
Cowboys got some hope late through Nanai again. The forward steamed onto a pass, brushed off the defence and touched down. Valentine Holmes converted quickly and the visitors were within eight.
That hope became belief when the Cowboys brought it back to 20-18. It was another good pass from Townsend who floated it out to the Cowboys all-time leading tryscorer Feldt to touch down.
The visitors had one final shot to fire. They munched up the metres in the final minute, tried to create space and turn the game around. Their last tackle play saw Feldt try to dive over but he was swarmed by the defence.
One sour note on the day for the Titans was injuries. Kieran Foran left the field in the second half with a hamstring injury while AJ Brimson was another who limped from the field. The Titans ended up with no one left on their interchange bench.