The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans have kept their undefeated record at their sparkling new home intact, recording a dominant 36-24 victory over a spirited New Zealand Warriors outfit at a sweltering Skilled Park today.
It was a dominant first-half display from the table-topping Titans that saw them seal their sixth victory of the season, with their adoring home crowd of 25,310 kept thoroughly entertained with some breathtaking, expansive rugby league.
Elusive Gold Coast fullback Preston Campbell enjoyed his finest game of the season for the home side, scoring one try and looking extremely dangerous with every touch, while Titans half Scott Prince enhanced his Test aspirations with yet another strong performance.
The Titans fifth straight victory was once again built around their ruthless, watertight defence, with three of the Warriors four tries coming directly from fortuitous kicks.
After repelling an early onslaught from an enterprising Warriors attack, it was the home side that posted first points against the run of play through the magical boot of Scott Prince.
Off the back of a terrific clearing kick that trapped Warriors fullback touch in-goal, the Titans skipper slotted a majestical grubber through for his eager chasing team, with halves partner Ashley Harrison reaping the rewards, dotting down for the opening four-pointer.
Prince’s conversion from right in front handed the home team a surprise 6-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.
The Gold Coast extended their lead just five minutes later with a dubious but slick try to winger Ben Jeffery, with the rookie Titans winger crossing wide out despite doubts surrounding the final pass.
New Zealand’s reply was fortuitous to say the least, with lock Michael Luck pouncing on a rebounding Nathan Fien grubber to post their first points in the 20th minute, with Warriors superboot Michael Wit adding the extras to close the gap to 12-6.
The smaller men were always going to be dangerous in the sweltering Gold Coast conditions, and it was the elusiveness of Titans fullback Preston Campbell that extended the home sides lead in the 27th minute.
Surrounded by a ring of giant Warriors defenders, Campbell jinked, weaved and danced his way through four tiring New Zealand defenders, before handing off to a rampaging Brad Meyers who scored a rare four-pointer.
And it was Campbell’s scintillating turn of speed that pushed the Titans out to an 18-point lead just minutes later, with the pint-sized number one leaving Warriors defenders in his wake in a dazzling fifty metre solo effort.
However, it took some outstanding vision from Warriors pivot Michael Witt to close the gap for the visitor’s, with the underrated number six firing a twenty metre, three man cut-out pass for rampaging New Zealand winger Manu Vatuvei to score in the corner.
Another sublime sideline conversion from Witt completed the scoring for the first half, allowing the energetic home side to take a handy 24-12 lead into the main break.
The game was as good as over when Anthony Laffranchi crossed for his fourth try of the season off a Nathan Friend pass, with Prince’s fifth conversion making it a long trek back for the Warriors at 30-12 in the 47th minute.
Two late tries to Witt gave the Warriors a glimmer of hope for a miracle comeback, but a try on debut to for Titans reserve Brenton Bowen completed the six tries to four win.
The Gold Coast Titans now face a tough acid test when they travel to Energy Australia Stadium next Saturday to face the Newcastle Knights, while the Warriors will attempt to regroup when they play host to the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium next Sunday.
Gold Coast Titans 36
Tries: Ashley Harrison, Ben Jeffery, Brad Meyers, Preston Campbell, Anthony Laffranchi, Brenton Bowen
Goals: Scott Prince 6
defeated
New Zealand Warriors 24
Tries: Michael Witt 2, Michael Luck, Manu Vatuvei
Goals: Michael Witt 4
At Skilled Park
Referee – Steve Lyons
Crowd – 25,310
StephenP
Arnold
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