The Bulldogs have destroyed the Titans 32-0 in front of a raucous Belmore Oval crowd in a performance labelled a “feeding frenzy” by Michael Ennis.
The afternoon began with a horror bombed try for Des Hasler’s men, with centre AJ Brimson giving away a chance at a four-pointer.
With clear space in front of him and only three metres to the tryline, Brimson passed the ball to Kieran Foran who dropped it cold.
MATCH CENTRE: Bulldogs vs Titans live score, stats, video
Des making “no excuses” for 2024 start | 03:03
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The moment was one of few times the Titans threatened the line, with Cameron Ciraldo’s men piling the pressure on their opponents.
In another blow for the Gold Coast, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui left the field with a suspected knee injury in the 62nd minute.
It remains to be seen how long he could be sidelined for, with fellow forwards star David Fifita also sidelined.
Their first try came from a smart Drew Hutchison short ball to find backrower Jacob Preston who burst through the defensive line.
Then Viliame Kikau scored, charging down a Tanah Boyd kick before taking his time to pick it up and ground it at the railway end.
Going into the break, the Titans had hope and only trailed by 12-points, but that optimism was quickly dashed.
Reed Mahoney burrowed his head low and scored close to the posts before Jacob Kiraz also got on the scoresheet.
Then Connor Tracey finished off an effort off the back of the former Panthers trio of Kikau, Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton.
Blake Taaffe also crossed, supporting Mahoney who burst through the line to close out the game.
Read below for all the big talking points after the Bulldogs’ big win!
“Rarely a try BOMBED as cold as that” | 00:40
AJ’S BIZARRE ‘BOMBED’ TRY
The Titans looked like they’d opened the scoring at Belmore oval until a bizarre brainfade saw the ball knocked on and commentators stunned.
AJ Brimson reeled in a towering bomb, soaring high to snatch the ball from Bulldogs fullback Blake Taaffe who looked as if his vision had been instructed by the afternoon sun.
The Queensland star was only three metres away from the tryline, but what happened next stunned will have left Des Hasler seething.
Brimson passed the ball to five-eighth Kieran Foran, who knocked it on and was equally surprised and angry at his teammate.
Both Warren Smith and Steve Roach couldn’t believe their eyes, and it was the last time the Titans threatened the Dogs’ defensive line.
“Brimson tried to give it to Foran, you’ve rarely seen a try bombed as cold as that,” Smith said.
“Can you believe it? There was no one in front of him,” Roach added.
“Maybe he wanted to give Foran a try to start the season, he should have scored himself. That is unfortunate they didn’t open the scoring themselves the Titans.”
“If only AJ Brimson realised he could have walked in, I’m sure he thought he was under pressure there… a chance wasted,” Smith said.
“We’re still 1 from 3” | 07:11
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KIKAU FIRES ALONGSIDE PANTHERS RECRUITS
Viliame Kikau was a man on a mission as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs fought against to win their first game of the season.
Despite stopping for some heavy elbow strapping early in the match, Kikau was the enforcer fans expect to see in the dominating 32-nil victory.
He terrorised Titans playmaker Tanah Boyd and iced his performance with a beautiful charge-down try in the first half.
The intense breeze was a big factor for both clubs, though the Bulldogs were able to hang onto the ball much better than the Titans in the first half and capitalise on their glut of good territory to go into the sheds 12-nil up.
Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney kept the score rolling early in the second half with a try from dummy half, and from 18-nil the Bulldogs never looked like conceding the two points.
The former Panthers trio of Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton and Kikau looked as good as they have at their new club on the left edge, giving some hope to long-suffering Bulldogs fans.
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TITANS’ HORROR SEASON START
The Des Hasler era can’t have started much worse for the Titans.
They were beaten comprehensively by the Dragons in Round 1, going down 28-4 to a team who were massacred by the Dolphins a week later.
But one bad performance can be forgiven, especially under a new coach and at the start of the season.
Now Hasler has to turnaround his season, potentially without their captain, having lost twice with a points differential of 56.
What’s more is the statistics all favoured the Titans. The Bulldogs had only previously won two of 11 at the Belmore sports ground in recent NRL history.
The Titans also had an advantage with a 12-11 head-to-head lead on their rivals.
And their run won’t be getting any easier, facing the Dolphins, Cowboys, Raiders, Sea Eagles and Warriors — all teams who have shown their finals credentials so far in 2024.
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