Foxx runs away to help Bulldogs down Titans

Bulldogs opened the scoring early with a successful captain challenge giving the home side an opportunity to put the ball between the posts for two points.

Four minutes later the Bulldogs continued their early ascendency when five-eighth Matt Burton sliced between the visitors defence, and found a flying Josh Addo-Carr on his inside to cross the line in the fourth minute.  

A mistake by Bulldogs forward Josh Jackson handed the Titans their first attacking opportunity and hooker Aaron Booth brought his team back into the game with a deft gruber placed perfectly for halfback Toby Sexton.

Come the 18th minute and a tenacious Jeremy Marshall-King scooted over the stripe from dummy half and the home side were out to an 14-6 lead.

Josh Addo-Carr put away any doubts of injury when the flying finisher showcased his speed and skill, intercepting the ball on the Bulldogs red zone and sprinting 95 metres to score.

In his 50th NRL appearance, it was Burton who powered over for a four-pointer in in the 30th minute, putting the result beyond doubt for the Bulldogs.

Moments after Bulldogs rookie fullback Declan Casey produced a staggering try-saving tackle on Herman Ese'ese, Titans enforcer David Fifita chased through a grubber to reduce the deficit to 16 points on the stroke of half time.

Five minutes into the second half it was Addo-Carr grabbing another long-range intercept try to stretch the home side's lead.

But it was game on again when the Titans pulled one back in the 52nd minute when a Toby Sexton kick delivered Phillip Sami the opportunity to plant the ball down inches before the dead ball line for his 40th NRL try.

Three minutes later the visitors again caught the Bulldogs napping, when a Tanah Boyd chip found Patrick Herbert to hand the young centre his first try for the year and Sexton's conversion made it 32-22.

But Bulldogs staved off the comeback when Burton and Addo-Carr combined to split Titans defence and hand the five-eight a double, extending the lead 36-22.

Just two minutes later the Gold Coast hit back when winger Jojo Fifita scored on the left edge to reduce the deficit 36-26 but that was as close as Justin Holbrook's men would get.

Match Snapshot 

• Bulldogs forward Corey Waddell was placed on report in the 22nd minute for for an eye gouge on Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
• Titans forward Jaimin Jolliffe also went on report in the first-half for a dangerous hit
• The Bulldogs wingers produced a magnificent combined first half, Addo-Carr charged for 176 metres from five runs and Jacob Kiraz chalked up 123 metres off eight carries
•  The Bulldogs have won only two of their past 12 games at CommBank Stadium
• Josh Addo-Carr scored his seventh career hat-trick in the Round 19 clash
• Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored four tries in three games at CommBank Stadium

Next week

The Titans will return home to Cbus Super Stadium in Round 20 to face the Canberra Raiders on Saturday afternoon.