Key Three: Goal-line defence the key as Titans claim ANZAC win

The Titans have claimed an entertaining ANZAC day encounter against the New Zealand Warriors, with an epic defensive effort in the second half helping the Gold Coast side to their first victory of 2024.

Here are the key talking points from the match:

EFFORT ENORMOUS AS TITANS REPEL WAHS

Tries sell tickets, defence wins games.  What a finish at Mt Smart Stadium.  When Rocco Berry’s try was converted in the 62nd minute, the Warriors moved to within three points of the Titans.  And they kept coming.  Set after set the Warriors threw everything at the Gold Coast and set after set the Titans turned up.  This was effort personified.  It was desperation.  It was resilience.  And it was brilliant.  After coming so close against the Raiders and Sea Eagles, the Titans showed that this team is building a grit that will put it in good stead.  With Harley Smith-Shields ruled out right before kick-off, giving Aaron Schoupp his first start of 2024, you could be forgiven for thinking the visitors were rattled as they conceded two early tries.  However, this team is proving it is up for the fight, coming back from 12-nil down to take a 19-12 lead at the break. 

The Titans added points after the half, but the Warriors came hard.  After a rousing ANZAC ceremony pre-kickoff and in front of a sell-out crowd, the home side put in a stirring second half performance that showed why they are one of the most dangerous in the competition.  Pleasingly for Titans fans, the Gold Coast side also showed that they’re up for the challenge in 2024 and ready to build a team that competes every week.  It’s unfair to say the Titans hung-on, instead you should say the Titans stuck strong – defence won the game and the Titans showed plenty of heart to claim their first win of the year.

SIX APPEAL, BOYD BRILLIANT

He loves Cbus Super Stadium, but nobody would be shocked if Tanah Boyd voted Mt Smart Stadium as his second favourite place to play footy.  After kicking a field goal to win the match for the Titans in a comeback victory last time he set foot onto kiwi turf, again he put on one of his best performances today.  With the number six jersey on the back, Boyd was in everything.   His long-kicking game was great.  He scored a solo try to level the scores in the first half.  Right on half-time, he slots a field-goal to put the Titans ahead 19-12.  It was Tanah’s best game of the season and with Kieran Foran’s rich vein of form continuing, the Titans halves put in a solid showing.

THE LETHAL LEFT SIDE

With the #1 back on his back, Brimson was outstanding.  The fullback scored a double and looked dangerous with every touch.  He ran for 183 metres, but also made some crucial plays as the last line of defence including grounding a fumbled ball in the in-goal in the frantic finish to the match to deny the Warriors.  Alofiana Khan-Pereira was tested at the end of almost every set, with Shaun Johnson launching bomb after bomb in his direction.  The winger did a job to reduce the threat, and then when he had an opportunity with the ball he showed his strike.  For the third straight week, Brian Kelly was one of the Titans best with the centre again looking dangerous.  Kelly set up the Titans first try by putting AKP into space and he gifted the winger a try of his own, with another good passage of play in the second half.  The left side combination continues to grow and while their attacking threat is always evident, their defence held strong against a dangerous Warriors side.