Brisbane end Gold Coast’s season

Gold Coast’s NRL season is over after their poor record at Suncorp Stadium continued with defeat in the weekend’s first elimination final.

Last night’s loss to the Brisbane Broncos was the 10th in a row for the Titans at Suncorp.

With 13 tries and 72 points in total, this was the highest- scoring playoff game in NRL history.

Gold Coast would have fancied their chances of ending their drought when they led 18- 16 at halftime. They had won all eight previous games when ahead at the break this season.

The Titans took advantage of Brisbane’s inability to deal with the high ball to score two early converted tries and then a third just before the break.

But Brisbane were the better team for much of the first half, despite trailing, and needed just 80 seconds to regain the lead after the restart.

That was the first of three Brisbane converted tries which established a decisive 34- 18 lead as the hosts took advantage of Gold Coast errors.

The Titans touched down with 15 minutes remaining to give their fans some hope but another mistake just four minutes later allowed the Broncos to extend their lead to 40- 22. They again traded tries in similar fashion in the final five minutes. Broncos 44 ( Alex Glenn 2, Corey Oates 2, Jordan Kahu, Jarrod Wallace, Anthony Milford tries, penalty try; Kahu 6 goals) Titans 28 ( Chris McQueen 2, David Mead, Josh Hoffman, Ryan James tries; Tyrone Roberts 4 goals). Halftime: 18- 16 Titans.