The Tigers came closest to scoring a try when Jacob Liddle, playing with a suspected broken nose, was held up over the line, and winger David Nofoaluma made a break from a line dropout reception, before being dragged down by Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and fumbling the ball.
Somehow, it came back to hurt them.
Maguire’s opposition on Thursday night butchered an unlosable lead last week – and yet he was the man in the coaching furnace. Funny game, rugby league.
Sometimes you can make an excuse for a poor game, or even poor half, in the early part of the season. But there was no excuse for the first 40 minutes, as bad an opening stanza you will see throughout 2022.
It finished 2-all after Sexton and Brooks traded penalty goals in the final three minutes of the half, and even then it was probably four points more than the half deserved.
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For once, the Tigers showed serious backbone after Titans recruit Tyrone Peachey was sent to the sin bin for the second time this season after repeated infringements. Gold Coast were about as effective as exploiting the extra man as the Tigers were last week with the game on the line against the Warriors.
Liddle came off second best after a nasty head clash with Titans prop Mo Fotuaika, the No.9 returning to the field even with a suspected broken nose.
It wasn’t a great night for players against their old club, Titans winger Corey Thompson botching the best chance of the first half when he dropped the ball over the line. His last game of 2021 ended with a blow-up over Patrick Herbert not passing the ball to him with the line wide open in the final against the Roosters, his first of 2022 ended with him wishing Kevin Proctor hadn’t found him.
The Tigers took the lead, fittingly, with only 11 minutes left with another Brooks penalty goal after the Titans were penalised for a David Fifita obstruction as club debutant Jamayne Isaako returned a kick. It seemed the only way of adding to the half-time score.
Gold Coast Justin Holbrook lost Isaac Liu and Beau Fermor to COVID-19 close to kick-off – and just maybe they knew what they were going be in for.
GOLD COAST TITANS 8 (AJ Brimson try; Toby Sexton 2 goals) defeated WESTS TIGERS 6 (Luke Brooks 3 goals) at Cbus Super Stadium. Referee: Grant Atkins.
Titans score last-minute winner over Tigers to avoid first tryless match in 29 years
Source: Philippines Alive
