Full-Time: Titans 24 def Eels 16
Sami is away! Brought down at the 20m line..
Fifita swings him to ground and that'll do it.
NO TRY CONFIRMED! Gutherson wanting play on, but Todd was having NONE of it
VIDEO REF: Todd has NO TRY
Pass knocked down by Cartwright. Parra were playing the Harlem Globetrotters there. Titans playing a lot of exciting footy!
Challenge unsuccessful
RCG puts it down. They will challenge though.
Will Penisini will come via the independent doctor - despite Parra being out of subs, they are allowed to make a further sub.
Fifita has passed his HIA
First knock on from the Titans as Parra try to go for a switch.
Daejarn Asi comes from the field with cramp. Looks like Hands will go into the halves.
PENALTY TITANS: High shot
Penisini's pass goes forward. It was tackle 0...
Good mark from Fifita.
If Parra get one more here, things get very very intriguing,
Guymer coming from the field with what looks to be a foot injury. Such a shame
Asi converts.
Gutherson got into dummy half and managed to beat three defenders on his way to the line. Referee Todd Smith was in the best position to see if the ball hit the line and awarded the try which was confirmed.
Cat 2 for Fifita
Kini caught in the in-goal, Good tackle from Matterson.
Fifita made a good tackle but caught Penisini's hip and will come from the field.
Fifita is in all sorts in back play.
Nice to see one of the New England Patriot NFL recruits from Australia in the crowd tonight in Jotham Russell.
No goal
Parramatta weren't going away. After Klese Haas was slow to clear the ruck, the Eels responded as Will Penisini muscled his way to the line. Penisini beat three disappointing defensive efforts from the Titans on his way to the line.
PENALTY EELS: Slow peel
Successful
Gold Coast eventually showed their class when they got the ball inside Parramatta's 20. A clever grubber from Campbell caught Clint Gutherson out of position and Brian Kelly crossed for the first of the second half.
Back to back six again's for the Titans.
Load management would be the only reason given AJ's injury troubles.
AJ Brimson coming off after a successful first stint.
Parramatta working their way out of their own end.
That is how you burn a challenge Brian...
Brian Kelly ruled to have stripped the ball one on one and has lost it. But we have a challenge.
Tago bundled into touch. Great tackle from JoJo Fifita. Brilliant defence from the Titans.
Parramatta will get it back as the ball was touched by Phillip Sami.
Peter Gough in the bunker this evening.
Someone needs to define "reportable offence" to Steve Roach.
The call from the touch judge is forward. Lorenzo Mulitalo got in trouble for a similar looking tackle against the Roosters in the NSW Cup a few weeks ago.
CHARGE DOWN! Lane looking for the bounce but it's secured by AJ Brimson. Titans get it back
Todd Smith was on the mark, but remember for the bunker to be involved it needs to be a REPORTABLE OFFENCE!
Both sides looking for chances to go on the attack. Now AKP goes down
NO TRY! No touch in the contest despite Gutherson's withering plea
VIDEO REF: Toddy has a NO TRY - looking for a possible disruptor here into grounding.
Back underway from the GC.
HT: Titans 18 lead Eels 6.
Oh no... Jake Tago drops it with the line WIDDDEEEE OPEN!
SIX MORE PAR: Hand on ball
Asi forces a chip and Brimson takes no chances.
Nice bit of defence there to save that on Jayden Campbell. Parramatta get off the hook but the Titans were a bit disappointing with that possession.
PENALTY GLD: Holding down
Dylan Brown puts it down...
AJ Brimson has been retrospectively placed on report
JoJo Fifita tackled in-goal. Great work from Asi to take the pass and grubber and force a goal-line dropout.
SIX AGAIN EELS: Randall is slow to release
Momentum is changing. Kick goes out on the full
Asi adds the extras.
Parramatta were guilty of over-trying but eventually some chances were going to stick, and it did in bizarre circumstances. AJ Brimson went for a dart out of dummy half and offloaded it straight to Blaize Talagi who got it onto Luca Moretti. The Clovelly Crocodile crossed with his first touch to bring Parramatta back into the contest.
Nothing going right for the Eels. They are trying so hard, and are making genuine scoring chances but the final move isn't working out for them at the moment.
Gutherson with one of the most bizarre ffloads you'll ever see. Was like watching rugby sevens, but it goes to the Titans.
Cartwright on for Doorey.
Asi almost breaks through, gets an offload away but it doesn't go to the target. Fortunately, the Titans take it dead.
RCG with a strong kick return! Exactly what Parramatta needed!
Well weighted grubber by Cartwright, it'll be a goal-line dropout.
PENALTY EELS: Slow peel against Klese Haas.
Parramatta making some subs here. I did two early blogs of the Titans, so great to see their improvement in 2024 under Des Hasler.
Campbell adds the extras.
Call the lifeguards, call every patrol because Parramatta are beached here on the Coast. Jake Tago was crunched in a great shot from Campbell. The Titans capitalised on the error by shifting the ball to Phil Sami. Sami was able to beat some lazy defensive efforts to cross for the Titans' third.
It needs to be said though. It isn't an issue isolated to Fifita but the staying down is a huge problem in the NRL.
Well handled by Todd Smith and co.
Fifita stays down and he hopes to get the bunker involved.
Parramatta with a great scoring chance there. The kick back inside is well defused by AJ Brimson.
AKP is away again!! But this time, he kicks inside but it is well defended by Dylan Brown and the Eels have survived!
Doorey is away! But a great stop by Campbell
Bit of a relief for the Eels. Sam Verrills putting it down.
Campbell with that try assist and now adds the extras.
AKP has two in three minutes. The Eels refused to do little favours for themselves after conceding a penalty which allowed the Titans to march down field. David Fifita linked up with AJ Brimson who found Khan-Pereria to cross for his second in three minutes to continue his impressive streak with his 11th career double.
Already 7 infringements by these teams. Make it 8 as Guymer is inside the 10m.
PENALTY TITANS: Hand on ball
Campbell adds the extras.
Gold Coast capitalised early after a suspect tackle in the air penalty. Jojo Fifita broke through for the opening line-break before sustained field position eventually took it's toll on the Parramatta defence. A lovely cut-out ball from Jayden Campbell found Alofiana Khan-Pereira who crossed untouched to go top of the try-scorers tally for 2024.
SIX AGAIN TITANS: Asi with a slow peel
PENALTY TITANS: Joe Ofahengaue pinned for being inside the 10m
SIX AGAIN TITANS: Inside 10m
Jojo Fifita in space for the game's first line-break! Titans go on the attack!!
PENALTY TITANS: Tackle in the air - one of the more softer tackle in the air penalties you will ever see.
Lorenzo Mulitalo down for the moment. Looks like one of those crusher tackles the defender doesn't really have much to do to avoid. Well done by the officiating crew in clearing that swiftly.
Put down by Matt Doorey. He couldn't handle it - the Titans defence improving significantly. David Fifita and Jayden Campbell make strong contact there (hint Billy Slater hint).
SIX AGAIN EELS: Slow peel against Randall
PENALTY EELS: Cannonball against Chris Randall and he's put on report.
Both sides through their opening sets. Gold Coast now working out of their own end.
Late TJ change with Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski replaced by Michael Wise.
We are underway on the GC!
Todd Smith in charge for game number 60. Dan Schwass and Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski have the flags while Peter Gough is in the bunker.
Game 1 gets underway on your Super shortened Saturday with the Titans playing Parramatta. AJ is back! Brimson promoted to fullback, Kini to the bench. This sees Phil Sami start at centre shifting Beau Fermor to the back-row. Klese Haas goes back to the bench while Joe Stimson makes way. Tanah Boyd is the concussion sub. All eyes on David Fifita tonight after another controversial Origin omission. Parra is 1-17 with an NRL debut for Lorenzo Mulitalo.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judges: Daniel Schwass, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Video Referee: Peter Gough
GOLD COAST TITANS (24)
Tries: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (2), Phillip Sami, Brian Kelly
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Jayden Campbell (4/4)
Penalty Goals:
PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Luca Moretti, Viliami Penisini, Clinton Gutherson
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Daejarn Asi (2/3)
Penalty Goals: