Live stream: Gold Coast Titans face Sunshine Coast Thunder in Sapphire Series preliminary final

Ruby fill-in Roxy Rhind ‘came on and did some amazing work’ in the final 10 minutes to help the Titans move into their first Sapphire Series decider. Catch up on the REPLAY.

A quiet first half transformed into a dream for the Gold Coast Titans, the side booking a spot in next week’s Sapphire Series grand final after a 52-49 victory over the Sunshine Coast Thunder.

“I am just so proud and happy,” head coach Temepara Bailey said.

“Proud of everyone.”

QTR 1: Titans led 13-11

QTR 2: Level 23-23

With a clean slate set, both sides went into the second half eager to gain some momentum.

Thunder goal keeper Annika-Lee Jones continued to put immense pressure on Titans’ young gun Tia Crombie under the post.

The contest between goal attack Josie Bingham and defender Shannon Eagland was centre stage, before all eyes shifted to Ruby fill-in Roxy Rhind.

Rhind took the court with 10 minutes to play and executed an impressive 7/7, including a Super Shot.

“Roxy came on and did some amazing work,” Bailey said.

Shots were put up equally fast down the other end at the hands of Kirra Tappenden and Sunshine Coast Lightning star Charlie Bell.

Finally a tip from Bingham on Thunder’s centre pass gifted Titans that elusive break.

They closed the quarter 40-37 ahead.

“It was really nice to have that buffer, not just for the players but also us as coaches on the side.”

Neither team toyed with their lineup heading into the final 15 minutes, and while fatigue set in, intensity remained high.

Thunder quickly levelled but were unable to take it a step further, Titans goal keeper Shanae Grant forcing a turnover and goal defender Jess Milne adding a block to her stats.

“We knew Thunder were going to come back, they have a quality team,” Bailey said.

“Every ball we lost we knew we’d have to work out butts off to get back.”

In a nailbiting end to the night, Titans held onto to a three-point lead, securing the win and gaining their ticket to a maiden grand final.

PREVIEW

Sunshine Coast Thunder are gearing up for their third - and undoubtedly most important - meeting with Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, with a spot in next week’s Sapphire Series grand final at stake.

And having fallen short in both regular season clashes, Thunder are determined to turn the tables.

Catch the Ruby Series and Sapphire Series preliminary finals LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 4pm.

Check the full LIVE STREAM schedule below.

“I’ve put it to the girls all week that (Titans) do have the wood on us so far this season, but we get another opportunity,” Thunder head coach Simone Nalatu said.

Can Sunshine Coast knock off the Titans?

“This is a big game for us, obviously.

“From the way this season has panned out, Titans would definitely be the favourites, and deserve to be.

“If we’re going to win a game against them, what better game to win than this one.”

Nalatu pointed to Gold Coast side’s elusive defensive strategy as a key focus of preparations.

“We know they play that zone defence,” she said.

“That’s something we’ll need to be aware of and need to ensure we’re working through it.”

She said they would need to put on a full performance if they hoped to be a chance, drawing on what went south in their last meeting where Titans pulled away in the final quarter.

“They’re such a class team,” Nalatu said.

“It’s going to be tough ... every minute will count and that’s how we’ve been thinking about the game.

Titans captain Kristen Oxenford and coach Temepara Bailey.

“We want to be in that game next week, but we also know we need to earn it and have a big test on Sunday.”

The Titans proved themselves a dangerous finals side in last week’s semifinal against the TAE Aerospace Jets, fighting from 15 points down in the third quarter to lose by just three.

“I watched a majority of their game last week against the Jets, and you may have written them off at halftime, but they showed they’re never going over,” Nalatu said.