Titans end tumultuous week on a high

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Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans

The Gold Coast Titans have ended a drama-filled week for the club on a high, stunning the Brisbane Broncos 18-12 in a seesawing affair at Suncorp Stadium.

It was an impressive upset victory for the Titans considering they were without skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who was rested with the Broncos fielding all of their Origin stars.

Brisbane almost went the length of the field to score on their opening set, sending a warning shot to the Titans as Billy Walters was pulled up just short on the line. 

It seemed like the Queensland derby was set to be a high-scoring affair if that was anything to go by, with both sides willing to spread the ball in perfect conditions at Suncorp Stadium.

Instead, the two teams would manage just one try apiece in the first half, but there were plenty of opportunities that went begging earlier in the game. 

Having already gone close in the opening set, it was Brisbane again who nearly scored the first points in the sixth minute when Selwyn Cobbo sniffed out an intercept. 

The Broncos winger pounced on a Kieran Foran cut-out pass, reading it perfectly only to drop the ball with no one in front of him and a certain try on the cards.

Filling in for Maroons enforcer Fa'asuamaleaui, AJ Brimson then later used his speed to get on the outside and open up a potential shot at points only to lose the ball in a Herbie Farnworth tackle.

Both teams were guilty of coughing up cheap possession early in Sunday's game but eventually it was no-nonsense running from Tom Flegler that produced points.

First, Flegler charged towards the line only to be stopped just short but did not have to wait long to crash over off a smart pass from Origin teammate Patrick Carrigan in the 29th minute.

Adam Reynolds slotted the extras to make it 6-0 to seemingly give Brisbane a solid buffer at the break only for the Gold Coast to strike in the final minute of the half.

There was controversy though as the Titans scored off the back of a repeat set that was awarded to the visitors after Reece Walsh was ruled to have played at an Alofiana Khan-Pereira kick.

Walsh though appeared to just be making a tackle but having failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities prior, the Gold Coast finally put points on the board off a short Foran pass to David Fifita.

Tanah Boyd then stepped up and added the two points to tie the game up at 6-all at the break.

The numbers backed up just how close the game was in the opening half, with both teams enjoying a similar share of possession while making three linebreaks and missing 15 tackles.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters appeared to give his side a spray at halftime but it didn't have the desired effect as the Titans went over to score first in the second half.

It came after Khan-Pereira was flipped in a tackle by Kobe Hetherington, with a penalty seeing the visitors start a new set beyond halfway.

The Gold Coast were quick to capitalise too, with Fifita at it again as he got on the outside of Adam Reynolds on a Foran pass and quickly shifted it to Brian Kelly who scored.

Boyd couldn't add the extras from the sideline, leaving the score at 10-6.

Perhaps the Broncos expected things to come a little easier as the frustration was starting to build, with Walsh kicking straight away off a penalty and gifting the Titans the ball back.

Sure, the Brisbane fullback has pace on his side but the Broncos have built their success this year on sustained pressure and that was not the way to build it.

Even the experienced Reynolds was guilty of forcing the issue too much, giving the Titans a seven-tackle set when a poorly-executed kick from the Broncos halfback bounced dead.

Once again the Gold Coast made the home side pay, this time spreading it early to Khan-Pereira who used his speed to burn Cobbo and score.

Boyd successfully slotted the conversion from the sideline to make it 16-6 but it looked like the Broncos had hit back shortly after, only for the Bunker to intervene.

On this occasion Reynolds went to the air on the last in the 57th minute and it looked like Phillip Sami couldn't bring it down, with Brendan Piakura pouncing to score.

Replays later showed a touch from Corey Oates though, with the try later taken off the board.

That was the first of three tries that would be initially awarded and later overruled by the Bunker, with the Titans and Broncos each having four-pointers taken away.

The most contentious came in the 59th minute as Walsh put Kotoni Staggs through a gaping hole and backed up in support to score. 

But the Bunker was quick to intervene and ruled Fifita was obstructed in the lead-up.

There was a close call on the ensuing set as Boyd put up a kick and Oates dropped it, with Aaron Schoupp on the spot to score.

In similar fashion to the Piakura no-try, it was later ruled by the Bunker that Phillip Sami had got his hands to the ball in the lead-up and knocked it on.

The Broncos finally got their second try of the game in the 63rd minute when some slick footwork from Ezra Mam fooled the Gold Coast defence, with Reynolds converting the try to make it 16-12 with 15 minutes left.

Brisbane had plenty of chances to steal the game late and Oates surged through from a set play off a scrum to score in the 71st minute, only for the pass from Walsh to be called forward.

The Broncos had one final opportunity on their final play of the game as Reynolds put Piakura through a hole, with the second rower finding Corey Oates who kicked back inside.

Walsh was chasing in support but Jayden Campbell saved the day as the Titans claimed a thrilling 18-12 win.

The Gold Coast play Canberra next week while the Broncos face another Queensland rival, preparing to take on Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins.