Titans secure their first win in 364 days in final-minute thriller

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Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. The Gold Coast Titans have managed to beat another NRL club, winning 28-23 against a Tigers side that pushed them all the way.

The Tigers raced out of the blocks in a similar way to last week against the Sharks, scoring in the 8th minute courtesy of a Harry Grant break. The young hooker was able to link up with Luke Brooks, who played the ball and Benji Marshall turned it inside for Adam Doueihi, who had an outstanding game. 

The writing was on the wall 5 minutes later when a left hand shift for the Titans turned ugly. Ash Taylor threw a cutout ball that landed in the bread-basket of David Nofoaluma, who streaked away to become the outright leading try-scorer in the NRL. It was looking like another heavy defeat to the hapless Titans.

The Titans were struggling to get out of their own end when Ash Taylor showed the form that Rugby League has been missing for the last 3 or so years. The million-dollar playmaker turned momentum for the Titans with a 40/20 that took a horrible bounce but eventually crossed the touchline about 5 metres out from the tryline.

The Titans took full advantage of that play, with Kevin Proctor running a superb line at Benji Marshall and Harry Grant who both produced poor goal-line tackle attempts on the big second rower. Taylor compounded the positive effects of his 40/20 by converting the kick. 

From that passage of play, it seemed the Gold Coast had found a new lease on life. New recruit Young Tonumaipea produced an effort play the Titans have been sorely missing and forced Tigers captain Moses Mbye back into the in goal on play 2. From the repeat set, Ash Taylor executed a cross-field kick to perfection and Anthony Don did what he's done so many times before and out-leapt his opposing winger to score.

Ash Taylor attempted a field goal right on the half time hooter, however he missed to the left, sending the two sides into half time deadlocked.

It took the Tigers just 3 minutes in the second half to produce one of the team tries of the season. A bomb was left unattended and they managed to regain possession, going sideline to sideline when David Nofoaluma got a kick in field to send Joseph Leilua in for his first try as a Tiger. 

10 minutes later it appeared the first half was a false dawn for the Titans when David Nofoaluma leaped above Dale Copley to claim a cross field kick eerily similar to Ash Taylor's in the first half. Benji converted, handing the Tigers a 10 point lead with 25 minutes to go. 

The Titans hit back quite quickly though, with Keegan Hipgrave doing it all himself and reaching out under the uprights to score his first ever try in the NRL. All of the sudden it was a 4 point ball game with 20 to go. 

Both sides went back and forth for just over 10 minutes, with the Titans throwing away numerous opportunities. The Tigers seemed to have repelled them when debutant Jaimin Jolliffe dropping the ball. That wasn't the case though, 3 minutes later Brian Kelly swooping on a pin-point Ash Taylor grubber to level up. Taylor was unable to convert this time though, meaning we were all tied up again with under 10 minutes to go. 

The match appeared over in the 77th minute when Benji Marshall cooly slotted a field goal from 20 metres out, giving the Tigers a one point advantage. The Titans weren't about to give up, and they pounced on a short kickoff that only just went the required 10 metres. 

The Gold Coast were in prime position to level up again on the last, however they defied all logic by running the ball on the last. They shifted to the left and Brian Kelly was 100 to 1 to beat the defence and score. So he didn't try to. Rather he went with the hail-mary grubber and the bounce of the ball went the way of the Titans for the first time in 364 days as Phil Sami streaked through to score.

The Titans will look to make it 2 in a row next week against the Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium while the Tigers will look to get back on track against premiership heavyweights the Raiders in Campbelltown.