Des’ Titans go on as Knights hit a comeback-shaped iceberg

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Newcastle Knights v Gold Coast Titans

From 20-0 down, the Gold Coast Titans have recorded their first win in Newcastle in nine years with a 24-20 victory over the Newcastle Knights.

Snaring victory with three minutes remaining courtesy of AJ Brimson's second four-pointer, the Titans put aside a week of off-field scrutiny to break a run of five straight losses with a gallant fightback.

The result lifts the Titans to their third win of the season, while the Knights and their 15,193 supporters in attendance will be left to lament a dismal second half riddled by errors.

Opening the scoring with an early penalty goal, the Knights took their time to convert a run of penalties with Dylan Lucas (16th minute) charging onto a short pass from Fletcher Sharpe to set in motion a run of tries.

Having set up the first four-pointer, Sharpe (23rd minute) continued his try-scoring heroics by finishing off a left side raid, while interchange forward Mat Croker (28th minute) made an immediate impact to crash over for his first try of the season to give the Knights a seemingly unassailable 20-0 lead.

Staring down the prospect of a scoreless first half for the second time this season, a thrilling passage of play on the final tackle, involving multiple offloads, reaped rewards as Phillip Sami (34th minute) touched down for one of the tries of the season.

 The Titans carried their strong finish into new half with Sami (46th minute) capitalising on multiple Newcastle errors to collect his second of the night.

As both sides descended into mediocrity with errors and poor execution for much of the second half, a miraculous pass from Alofiana Khan-Pereira - delivered inches before being tackled over the sideline - saw Brimson (65th minute) reduce the deficit to just two points.

With the Titans surging at the same time their opponents were flailing to hold onto the lead, a penalty against Kai Pearce-Pail for dangerous contact on Beau Fermor allowed the visitors to strike; Khan-Periera threaded a grubber towards the posts which was gladly pounced upon by Brimson (77th minute) to seal the unlikeliest of wins for the Titans.

Next week, the Knights will remain at home in the same time slot against the Eels, while the Titans will face the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.