Titans forward Mo Fotuaika has been the second player in as many nights to be sent off after a high shot on Warriors fullback Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad. The score is level at 6 after 30 minutes.
Fotuaika was given his marching orders in the 16th minute, two minutes after the Titans dodged a bullet when a high shot from Chris Randall to the head of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was only given a penalty.
Referee Ben Cummins wasn’t messing around the second time around, with Fotuaika being sent from the field, dropping the Titans to 12 for the rest of the game.
MATCH CENTRE: Titans v Warriors, scores, videos, stats
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >>>
Just two minutes later, Warriors forward Marata Niukore was sin binned after an incident with David Fifita.
“Oh no,” Andrew Voss exclaimed on Fox League.
“This is a powder keg about to erupt.
“I wouldn’t even call it a slap, I’d call it a rub.
“You can’t sin bin there.”
The Titans took advantage of those 10 minutes with even numbers, when Fifita barged over from close range.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson quickly answered though, going over for his 12th career try against the Titans to level the scores.
Earlier, Titans star AJ Brimson was a very late scratching, failing a fitness test only minutes before the start of the game.
MATCH PREVIEW
After ending the Cowboys’ six-game winning streak last week, the Titans will be out to lower the colours of another red hot team when they play host to the third-placed Warriors.
The boys from New Zealand have been the surprise packets of 2023, disproving their doubters week after week to be in pole position of hosting a home final this season.
Coming off a bye last week, coach Andrew Webster will trot out an unchanged line up from the one that beat the Raiders in golden point a fortnight ago, thanks to some magic from the evergreen Shaun Johnson.
The Titans escaped an injury scare to AJ Brimson, with the Origin star set to suit up. Brimson suffered a rib injury against the Cowboys but scans cleared him of major damage.
Outside back Jojo Fifita suffered an ankle injury against the Cowboys and is set to miss a couple of weeks, but that opens the door for the exciting Jayden Campbell to be promoted to the starting line up.
The Titans still have very slim finals aspirations, but will need to win their final five games to be a chance of achieving that.
FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW
Gold Coast Titans vs Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium, 6.00pm AEST
Titans team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 14. Jayden Campbell 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 15. Chris Randall 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Erin Clark 4. Aaron Schoupp 9. Sam Verrills 16. Klese Haas 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 18. Keano Kini 19. Jacob Alick
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Jazz Tevaga 20. Taine Tuaupiki
Discussion about this post