NRL round 1 2022: Eels v Titans match report, score, Justin Holbrook fumes at referees

The Gold Coast Titans have called for a major overhaul to the NRL’s officiating after a series of controversial decisions denied them a chance to claim a huge round one scalp.

Gold Coast Titans Coach Justin Holbrook was fired up about the referees following the loss to Parramtta. Picture: NRL Photos

Angry Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook wants the Captain’s Challenge abolished after declaring his club was robbed of the opportunity to give its flood-stricken region a morale-boosting win over Parramatta in Sunday’s season opener at CommBank Stadium.

The courageous Titans came from 14 points down to hit the lead late in the game but were

eventually reeled in and lost 32-28 on the back of three consecutive Parramatta penalty goals.

An emotional Holbrook was livid over a series of Captain’s Challenges favouring the Eels and a call to award Clint Gutherson a penalty late in the game when the Bunker intervened and ruled the Eels fullback was taken out after a grubber kick into the in-goal.

On-field officials had originally ruled play on.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Gold Coast Titans Coach Justin Holbrook was fired up about the referees following the loss to Parramtta. Picture: NRL Photos

In comments that are sure to be closely examined by NRL officials, the Titans boss strongly hinted he feels his club is treated differently to others.

”It’s about us not being one of the big clubs and not getting anything,“ Holbrook said.

”If they’re 50-50 (calls) make it 50-50 – give us a couple, give them a couple.

”Either make it 50-50 or get rid of the Captain’s Challenge because it’s not favouring us and it never has.

”I don’t know if we were good enough but we had a great opportunity taken away from us.

“We had a great opportunity to come down and beat one of the heavyweights for the competition (and honour) our whole region, which has been flooded, and put some smiles on people’s faces.

”I’m not taking anything away from Parramatta – they got the job done - but we’re on the wrong end of the decisions and I don’t know why.

“I’m finding it difficult to swallow.”

The Titans were left searching for answers after the controversial defeat.. Picture: Getty

One successful Captain’s Challenge at the play-the-ball led to a game-evening Parramatta penalty when the call should have gone the Titans’s way, while the Gutherson penalty put the Eels two points in front.

Holbrook felt match officials may have been swept up in the emotion of Parramatta’s comeback before a big home crowd.

He said: ”Don’t forget there are a lot of fans who aren’t here who are going for the other team.

”As a game we’ve got to remember that. We get excited about people roaring in a stadium and it can affect our decisions.

”We should have let the second half play the way the first half did and see who the best team is.

“That first half of footy was exciting with a lot of tries but in the second half I would have fallen asleep if I wasn’t coaching.

”To watch my team continually defend the line and never get a chance to win the game (is

frustrating).”

EELS TEEN RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AFTER HORROR COLLISION

Parramatta just keep finding new ways to torture their fans.

The latest bid to end the most talked about premiership drought in the game got off to a nervous start at CommBank Stadium on Sunday as the Eels blew a 14-point lead before recovering to down Gold Coast 32-28.

Three late penalties to Mitchell Moses enabled the home side to escape with a narrow win, but it was in doubt right until the death.

This was a pulsating game from start to finish, full of errors, brain explosions and brilliant entertainment.

“It came a little easy for us at the start but defensively it wasn’t what I was expecting from us,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said.

Skipper Clint Gutherson added: “We’re not going to look back on this game and see how we won it in 10 weeks time. It was good to get the win and move on to round two against the Sharks.”

Waqa Blake of the Eels scores in the corner (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Ten tries were scored in all – five to each side – and 60 points recorded as the sides went blow for blow.

The blue and golds were near perfect with the ball in the first half hour, scoring four tries via a combination of pace, precision and just a touch of luck.

Winger Sean Russell had himself a hat-trick after just 33 minutes, benefitting from tremendous work inside from big name Eels quartet Reed Mahoney, Dylan Brown, Clint Gutherson and Mitchell Moses.

The last of his three tries ended his involvement in the game, the rookie winger taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs after colliding with Gold Coast fullback Jayden Campbell in scoring.

Campbell slid into the contest but match officials deemed his actions were an attempt to stop a try and not illegal.

The match review committee may take a different view after looking at the incident.

“It was just in the moment of trying to stop a try, trying to score one and hopefully Seany’s alright and we can get him back playing,” Gutherson said.

Scans will determine the full extent of the damage, but the rookie winger faces between three to six weeks on the sideline.

Sean Russell has a first half HAT-TRICK! 🔥#NRLEelsTitanspic.twitter.com/Mm3bAdazV7

— NRL (@NRL) March 13, 2022

Sean Russell is treated by medicos after the incident. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty

Parramatta hit a hole late in the half, conceding two tries in the final four minutes as the Titans sent a reminder they are a different breed these days.

Gold Coast led until the 67th minute but simply ran out of gas on a lack of possession and field position.

Spurred on by the big home crowd, the Eels regained their composure and closed out the game on the back of three consecutive penalties.

Sean Russell grabs at his ribs after the collision. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty

GOLDEN TITANS

The days of the Gold Coast Titans wilting under pressure are long gone.

The visitors had plenty of things go against them and trailed throughout the first half, but just would not go away.

They hit the lead just after the break, winger Phillip Sami flying above opposite Bailey Simonsson to claim a high kick and touch down.

He then cheekily mocked Gutherson by stealing the King’s signature try celebration as the Parramatta fullback lay in the in-goal.

Halfback Toby Sexton was enormous for the Titans while big David Fifita had his moments but drifted out of the game at times.

David Fifita drifted in and out of the game (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

FREAKISH FOUR-POINTER

Moses must have feared the worst as the ball flew off his boot attempting a clearing kick from 55m out early in the game.

The halfback put so much pepper on it that it looked certain to roll over the deadball line to give the Titans a seven-tackle set.

Instead, the ball hit the left upright on the full, rebounding into the path of the chasing Dylan Brown.

He toed the ball ahead for Russell to collect and cross for one of the most bizarre tries we will see this season.

“I thought that was going to end up in the leagues club. He’s smashed that, Mitchell Moses,” an astonished Andrew Johns said.

Originally published as NRL round 1 2022: Eels v Titans match report, score, Justin Holbrook fumes at referees