Bunker blunder adds salt to the wounds of Titans
THE Titans’ faint finals hopes are cactus after The Bunker produced one of its greatest howlers in Sydney’s 20- 12 win against the Gold Coast last night.
The Titans have entered the dreaded “mathematical chance” territory in their quest to taste finals action in coach Garth Brennan’s first year in charge. Play- offs seem a 100- 1 shot for the Titans and they had little help from officials in front of 10,074 at a frosty Cbus Super Stadium.
The Titans were on the wrong end of one of the most perplexing decisions in The Bunker’s three- year history when debutant Roosters halfback Sean O’Sullivan was awarded a try despite a clear knock- on.
Even O’Sullivan appeared to believe he hadn’t scored and Titans captain Ryan James summed up the decision when he told referees: “The greatest reaction is from the player – he knows he didn’t score.”
Despite The Bunker debacle, the Titans did not take their chances against an understrength Roosters side missing stars Cooper Cronk, James Tedesco, Latrell Mit- chell and Dylan Napa. For the second straight week big money Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor struggled as the Titans slumped to their fourth loss in six games.
After imploding in last week’s 34- 0 loss to Brisbane, the 23- year- old Taylor was erratic with his kicking, passing and decision- making, proving he is a long way from being a Queensland Origin play- maker. In contrast, rookie fiveeighth Alexander “AJ” Brimson was sensational in his eighth NRL appearance as the Gold Coast mounted a late comeback that eventually fell short.
The Titans slumped to their 11th loss of the season, leaving the Gold Coast with the daunting task of having to win their last seven matches by healthy margins to have any chance.