‘Hard to watch’: Cowboys’ woes continue as gutsy Titans hang on for thrilling 20-18 win

The final margin was just two points but Gold Coast were deserved Queensland derby winners against a disappointing Cowboys outfit that was outplayed in every facet.

David Fifita on the charge for the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

North Queensland’s woes have continued as Gold Coast held on for gutsy 20-18 triumph in front of 12,125 supporters at CBUS Super Stadium.

A late push from the Cowboys saw them come within two points of levelling the game, but it was too little too late from the visitors who trailed 20-0 after an hour of play.

The Titans outplayed the Cowboys in every facet of the game and were deserving derby winners, but the stench brewing up north has never been smellier.

The Cowboys dished up their worst performance of the season – which is no easy feat considering their lacklustre last two months – and they are now 10 competition points behind the first-placed Sharks despite sitting first after three rounds.

North Queensland has conceded more than 20 points in eight straight matches for the first time since 2010. It’s not good enough for a team with their quality of players.

To the Titans’ credit they were clinical with their chances and defended their hearts out to truly turn their season around for coach Des Hasler.

The Gold Coast has two wins in their last three games while the Cowboys have lost six of their last seven.

Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston summed it up perfectly with 10 minutes to play.

“As a Cowboys fan I feel like crying, it’s hard to watch,” Thurston said.

Cowboys star Valentine Holmes looks on during his side’s loss to the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

GOLD COAST’S GOLDEN OLDIE

Anyone who says 33 is too old for the NRL couldn’t be more wrong.

Kieran Foran is still one of the NRL’s elite halves and the way his game has evolved to match his strengths is testament to his perseverance.

Foran had the ball on a string in attack, but it was his defence that stood tall for the Titans. He saved two certain tries in the first half with crunching one-one-one efforts on both Reuben Cotter and Semi Valemei to keep the Cowboys scoreless.

Foran was one of the Titans’ best before being forced from the field with a hamstring strain in the 60th minute. He said it wouldn’t keep him out of the game for long.

“It’s not too bad to be honest with you, I came off straight away, I sort of felt it grab,” Foran said.

“I had it probably a month ago, something pretty similar in a game and I was able to play the following week, so I don’t feel like this one’s bad at all.

“At most it would be a week, but I’ll be pushing for (selection) this week.”

Kieran Foran had the ball on a string for the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

NO ANSWER TO COWBOYS QUESTIONS

What will be most frustrating for Cowboys coaching staff and supporters alike is that North Queensland’s self-inflicted issues aren’t improving.

More errors, missed tackles, yardage penalties and poor decisions cost the team dearly.

Just minutes into the game the Cowboys gave away an unnecessary yardage penalty late in the set and compounded the trouble when Heilum Luki hit Brian Kelly with a careless high tackle, gifting the first two points.

The Gold Coast scored its first try after Scott Drinkwater elected to run the ball on fifth and hand over possession in great territory, allowing the Titans to march up the field and score.

The Titans made it two tries in four minutes after the Cowboys spilt possession trying to work the ball out of their own half, marching into the red zone again and crossing through David Fifita.

Pressure is mounting on Cowboys coach Todd Payten. Picture: Getty Images

Seeing three Cowboys get caught ball-watching a bomb late in the first half, before AJ Brimson powered through some toilet paper-esque goal-line defence, was simply embarrassing.

Todd Payten has become the most under-pressure head coach in the NRL.

The Cowboys coach said fighting his way out of the five-game losing streak wouldn’t come easily.

“It’s just not going to click. What needs to happen is we need to fight and scrap our way to a victory,” Payten said.

“And that’s an 80 minute effort, not just waiting for it to happen or expecting things just to bounce back.

“It’s getting that first one out of the road, and then building on that, adding different parts to what a victory looks like.”

INJURY REPORT

Gold Coast winger Phillip Sami was ruled out with a hamstring injury in the first half.

Cowboys utility Sam McIntyre went off with a HIA – which he passed – after a hit by David Fifita, which saw the Titans star put on report.

Foran left the field with 20 minutes to play with a hamstring strain sustained while making a tackle.

AJ Brimson (groin) and Harley Smith-Shields (pec) also left the field injured in the late stages. Smith-Shields is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

Titans coach Des Hasler said he would have to dig deep to find replacements for next week.

“We have five halves sitting on the sideline at the moment,” Hasler said.

“I think we’ve got Brad Davis and Michael Monaghan so we might drag them out of retirement. Nah, we’ve got a week to work it out – we’ll be right, we’ll come up with something.”

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GOLD COAST: 20 (J. Fifita, D. Fifita, A. Brimson tries; B. Kelly (4) goals)

NORTH QUEENSLAND: 18 (J. Nanai (2), K. Feldt tries; V. Holmes (3) goals)