Brimson proves pivotal as hot Titans prevail
AJ Brimson made a blistering switch to five-eighth as the Gold Coast Titans escaped with a 20-18 win against the Warriors in a Cbus Super Stadium thriller.
On a scorching Gold Coast afternoon, the Warriors lost hot-headed prop Matt Lodge to heat illness after he left the field vomiting following his opening 20-minute stint.
It looked like another 44-nil blitz was on the cards when the Titans burst out to a 12-nil lead inside 15 minutes, but the plucky Warriors refused to go away.
The Warriors had multiple opportunities to snatch victory late, however it was Brimson who proved to be the difference in a nailbiting finish.
In his first appearance in the No.6 jersey since an offseason switch from fullback, the Titans dynamo created two tries to be the most dominant playmaker on the pitch as Warriors halfback Ash Taylor’s return to the Gold Coast ended in heartbreak.
Just days after declaring he wanted to be an 80-minute forward, David Fifita was dragged with the game on the line.
With the Titans leading 20-18, Fifita was sent to the pine with 15 minutes to go and didn’t get back on the field.
He had only managed seven carries for 48m in a lacklustre performance where he seemed disinterested in working the ball out of the Gold Coast’s half.
For all of his attacking brilliance, Warriors fullback Reece Walsh is practically a defensive turnstile.
There are few players with sharper feet in the game, but Walsh is near ineffective when it comes to defending his own line.
To make matters worse for the Warriors they could be facing another major blow after star prop Addin Fonua-Blake ended the game with a shoulder injury.