Titans second half surge downs Dolphins

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Dolphins v Gold Coast Titans

Gold Coast have put on a superb second half showing to down local rivals the Dolphins 21-14 in front of nearly 20,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

The forwards had a field day early for the Phins, with Tevita Pangai Junior and Jesse Bromwich crossing inside the first fifteen minutes ahead of a further penalty goal and by the 21st minute the home side led 14-0.

Little did they know - they wouldn't score another point.

A frantic end to the first half saw Josh Kerr binned for the hosts, and the Titans capitalised almost immediately with Brian Kelly strolling over short of the break.

Trailing 14-6, the Gold Coast narrowed the margin to four points just eleven minutes after the break when Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored the first of two tries for the afternoon to maintain his advantage at the top of the NRL top tryscorer list. By the hour mark he had completed his double and scores were level at 14-all.

A tense ten-minute period gave way at the 70th minute when Klese Haas snapped the deadlock, and at 20-14 the visitors looked home and hosed, something five-eighth Kieran Foran managed to ensure with a confirmatory field goal at 75 minutes.

The win was the Gold Coast's first against their new near-neighbours after four contests, and dents the Phins' top four aspirations - and puts them now into a tight tussle to ensure they make their first finals series. For the Titans it gives them brief hope of finals footy with six rounds remaining.

Looking ahead to next week, the Dolphins inexplicably are headed to Perth to host the Roosters on a five-day turnaround, while the Titans host Brisbane at home on Saturday afternoon, where 'little brother' could effectively end the Broncos' finals hopes.