The Gold Coast Titans have reclaimed the lead in their Round 20 clash against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium, going ahead 22-18 after 51 minutes in western Sydney.
Fresh off his triumphant State of Origin appearance, Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard barged over in the seventh minute, and NSW Blues teammate Mitchell Moses made no mistake with the conversion kick.
The Titans almost returned serve a couple of minutes later, but replays showed Jayden Campbell’s foot went into touch during a try attempt, with Clint Gutherson rescuing the hosts.
Parramatta extended its lead in the 13th minute after Will Penisini recovered a loose ball and scored near the posts essentially untouched – the Eels centre celebrated with a little jig.
MATCH CENTRE: Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans score
However, Gold Coast reduced the deficit to eight points almost immediately when rookie Alofiana Khan-Pereira lunged over near the left corner flag after David Fafita’s no-look pass for the Titans’ first try. Tanah Boyd missed the conversion kick.
There was drama in the 21st minute when Eels winger Maika Sivo was put on report and sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Jojo Fifita.
But disaster struck for Parramatta a few minutes later when Campbell-Gillard was also sent to the sin bin for dangerously sliding into a tackle knees first, leaving the Eels with 11 men on the field.
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The Titans exploited the two-man advantage, with winger Phillip Sami sprinting fifty metres for Gold Coast’s second try of the evening, with Boyd slotting the conversion. Boos echoed around the venue as Sami celebrated the four-pointer with his teammates.
Not long after, Khan-Pereira secured a double, his sixth of the season, in the 33rd minute as Gold Coast went ahead of the scoreboard for the first time.
Moses nailed a penalty goal in the 36th minute to tie the scores, but a late penalty for Gold Coast gave the visitors a narrow two-point lead at half-time.
On the first play after the break, Titans captain Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui was penalised for a shoulder charge on Campbell-Gillard.
The Eels reclaimed the lead in the 45th minute when second-rower Bryce Cartwright steamed over from the back of a ruck, but Moses missed the conversion kick.
However, it didn’t take long for the Titans to sneak ahead once again, with Boyd weaving his way through Parramatta’s defensive line and scoring under the posts in the 49th minute.
The Eels, who suffered a heavy defeat to the Warriors last weekend, are at risk of slipping out of the top eight if they don’t secure two points against Gold Coast, but the return of Origin stars Clint Gutherson, Mitchell Moses and Reagan Campbell-Gillard makes them favourites.
The Titans, coming off back-to-back losses against the Raiders and Dolphins, have not won an away match against Parramatta since 2015.
“They’re a quality side and they’re playing really good football at the moment,” interim Titans coach Jim Lenihan told reporters this week.
“They’re a team that has really skilful forwards, really good halves and a great fullback so we certainly have our hands full.
“We’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
However, the Titans have been bolstered by the return of their Origin stars – Moeaki Fotuaika, Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui and David Fifita remain in the Gold Coast’s 17-man squad, while AJ Brimson was ruled out at the eleventh hour.
Eels team
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Andrew Davey 17. Ryan Matterson 19. Makahesi Makatoa
Titans team
14. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 17. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 15. Chris Randall 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Isaac Liu 4. Aaron Schoupp 10. Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui 16. Erin Clark 19. Jacob Alick 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui
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