Skipper eases heat on Titans
TITANS skipper Tyrone Roberts has single-handedly lifted the pressure on the Gold Coast following a gritty 36-18 win over Manly at Lottoland last night.
The entire football department – from staff to players – was under intense pressure leading into the match following the announcement of a mid-year review into the club’s operations.
But the Titans hit back at their critics in a spirited performance to notch up just their third win of the season and give the club some breathing room.
It was alarming scenes in the opening half for the Gold Coast as Manly ran riot on the back of ill-discipline and costly errors from the Titans.
Titans coach Garth Brennan would have been left ruing some of his players’ decisions as they attempted miracle plays.
Then, trailing 12-10 at halftime, the Gold Coast captain stepped up when his club needed him the most.
Roberts was the Titans’ best, setting up two tries, making two linebreaks and scoring two four-pointers himself. He also ran for 102m as he carved up Manly’s defensive line.
His halves partner and Gold Coast’s million-dollar man Ash Taylor was too quiet, running the ball on just two occasions – and losing the ball on one of them.
However, Brennan defended Taylor’s performance.
“When you have a halfback who’s in the zone and taking control like Tyrone was tonight, Ash did the right thing and supported him and backed him up with what he needed,” he said.
Someone also forgot to tell the Titans’ forward pack that their workhorse Jai Arrow was ruled out before the match with injury.
The big men had little impact during the game, with young gun Moeaki Fotuaika the only one to step up in Arrow’s absence.
Despite winning, the Titans continued to show signs of ill-discipline and a lapse in concentration.
Manly halfback Kane Elgey terrorised his former club early and reaped the benefits in the seventh minute with an intercept that led to an opening try from winger Jorge Taufua.
A Jarrod Wallace knockon close to the tryline allowed another length-of-thefield try to right winger Reuben Garrick.
But a late fightback in the first stanza allowed the Titans to head into halftime trailing by just two points.
The Titans began the second half much better and were rewarded with a flood of tries, including a Dale Copley hat-trick to take their lead to 26-12 with 20 minutes to go.
Manly managed a late surge through Brad Parker but it wasn’t enough.