A seven-game streak is no more… the Titans have broken their six-year Parramatta curse with a courageous 26-24 win over the Eels on Sunday night.
The final game in Magic Round in front of a strong 46,835 crowd at Suncorp Stadium, the Gold Coast fended off a fast-finishing opposition to notch up their fifth win of the season with a valiant display in wet and heavy conditions.
Match: Titans v Eels
Round 10 -
home Team
Titans
7th Position
away Team
Eels
12th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Bringing up back-to-back wins to jettison back into the top eight, it was pleasing signs for the Titans who will now prepare to travel south to Newcastle to face the Knights next Sunday afternoon.
Here are the key talking points from the victory:
Foran just like a fine wine
Kieran Foran used Magic Round to wind back the clock, finding the line twice the opening 10 minutes to evaporate the injury cloud the veteran playmaker was under heading into the contest.
Breaking a 28-game try-scoring drought with the double in quick succession, the 270-gamer could’ve had a first half hat-trick if Alofiana Khan-Pereira didn’t cheekily treat the NRL as a game of backyard footy with a freakish chip-and-chase to himself to continue his rich vein of try-scoring form.
Foran doubles up in quick time
Getting through the entire 80 minutes, the experienced No. 6 finished with two tries, two line breaks and three tackle breaks, as well as making 56 metres with five runs.
Arguably the toughest and grittiest player in the game right now, the 32-year-old was firm at the start of the week he was going to back-up his Brookvale bravery after battling a toe injury and did so with an inspirational showing at Suncorp to help lead his Titans team to victory.
Billy, don’t you lose Moe’s number
Billy Slater has a tough job on his hands with Origin just around the corner, but one man who has not given up on rekindling his Maroons dream is Moe Fotuaika if the last four weeks is anything to come by.
Whilst it was one of her more quieter games of the past month, it was still an extremely impressive performance, with the powerful prop making just shy of 100 metres in his first 30-minute stint, before bringing his final running total to 134; as well as extreme intent in defence with 30 tackles at 100 percent efficiency.
With plenty of props to choose from, he has easily put himself into the conversation; averaging 162 run metres and 30 tackles a game at 95 percent, joining captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui who played 74 minutes tonight with yet another strong showing.
The moment Titans fans have been waiting for….
It may have taken 10 rounds, but Titans fans finally got a glimpse of Alofiana Khan-Pereira in full flight… and wasn’t his four-pointer a beauty.
90 metre intercept
Taking top spot of the try-scoring tally by notching up his 11th of the season, the 22-year-old was like a thief in the night with a deft intercept, reeling in a Clint Gutherson cut-out pass to run the length of the field and burn defenders in the process.
Topping the Hostplus Cup try-scoring tally in 2022 with an incredible 25 four-pointers in 19 appearances for the Burleigh Bears – including several runaways, the flyer backed his ability with the skilful moment of magic, with many Titans fans far and wide hoping to see more of what he delivered at Suncorp.