In a gripping encounter on the Gold Coast, the Cowboys edged past the Titans with a narrow 30-24 victory, bolstering their chance to break into the top eight of the NRL standings. Currently sitting in 12th place, the Cowboys desperately needed a win to keep their season alive, while the Titans, despite being at the bottom of the ladder, put up a fierce fight, making the match hard-fought and competitive.
As the match drew to a close, the Titans rallied impressively, closing a 12-point gap with only five minutes remaining. Phillip Sami broke through the Cowboys’ defence to score a vital try, bringing the score to a manageable one converted try. Broadcasting commentator Peter Psaltis heralded the thrilling finish, stating, “We have a grand slam finish.”
However, the Cowboys, struggling to regain their momentum, faced difficulty when Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui made a desperate attempt to charge down a kick, urging for the ball to be passed back to his team after it went into touch. His pleas were dismissed by the Bunker, ultimately confirming the Cowboys’ hard-earned win.
From the match’s outset, the Cowboys made a strong statement when Zac Laybutt scored the opening try in the seventh minute, quickly giving them a boost. Following a series of errors from the Titans, Murray Taulagi extended their lead to 12 points. The Titans’ situation became more precarious when their hooker, Sam Verrills, sustained an eye injury but managed to return for the second half after undergoing a head injury assessment.
The Titans began to find their rhythm in the first half when Beau Fermor capitalised on a quick pass from Kieran Foran to score their first points. The second half saw Scott Drinkwater extending the Cowboys’ lead before Jeremiah Nanai increased the margin with a clever grubber kick. Yet, the Titans responded valiantly with AJ Brimson scoring in the 54th minute, followed by Jojo Fifita scoring again in the 64th.
Despite the Titans’ late charge and spirited performance, they ultimately fell short, leaving the Cowboys to celebrate a crucial win that keeps their finals hopes alive.