NRL round 19, Dolphins v Titans: Brave referee call lauded as Dolphins steal thriller

Referee Grant Atkins produced arguably the bravest call ever made in golden point as the Dolphins stole a thrilling victory over Queensland rivals the Titans.

Jarrod Wallace of the Dolphins celebrates a try. Picture: Getty

The Titans suffered another shocking collapse as Gold Coast reject Jamayne Isaako returned to haunt his former club by kicking the Dolphins to a drama-charged 23-21 victory at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.

In a Robina rollercoaster, the Titans were left shattered as ‘Iceman’ Isaako stepped up as the hero to put the boot into the Coast and keep the Dolphins’ finals hopes alive with a pulsating extra-time triumph.

The Gold Coast appeared to be cruising to victory after Kieran Foran and Jayden Campbell produced a sublime opening stanza to propel the Titans to a 14-6 half-time lead.

But once again, the Titans crashed in a Dolphin debacle, blowing another winning margin – just as they did in round eight when the Coast botched a 26-0 lead in a dismal capitulation against Wayne Bennett’s new franchise.

With scores locked at 20-all, Isaako snapped a 75th-minute field goal to give the Dolphins a 21-20 lead, only for Titans halfback Tanah Boyd to respond 90 seconds from time to send the derby into golden point.

Jamayne Isaako celebrates his match-winning penalty goal. Picture: Getty

Referee Grant Atkins then made the biggest call of his career, correctly penalising Erin Clark for offside on his tryline as Isaako lined up another field-goal 21 seconds from the end of the first period.

That gave the Dolphins a penalty 20 metres out – and Isaako duly plunged the dagger into the Titans to sensationally snap the Dolphins’ four-match losing streak.

“I admire his courage,” Bennett said of referee Atkins. “It was the right call. Nothing influenced him from making the right decision.”

Erin Clark correctly ruled off-side, delivering a match-sealing penalty goal to the Dolphins.

Jarrod Wallace barges over for a try. Picture: Getty

PHIN-CREDIBLE

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have a heart of Phar Lap.

They may be a new franchise but it is testament to Bennett’s ethos and coaching ability that the Dolphins remain in finals contention entering the final two months of the season.

By rights, they could have finished last this season. But the NRL’s 17th team refuses to wilt under pressure and Bennett’s troops outlasted the Titans to avert a fifth consecutive loss and stay in touch with the top eight on 20 competition points.

Maligned former Bronco Anthony Milford ignited the Dolphins’ second-half fightback, having a hand in two tries, while Isaako continued his fine season with two big plays under pressure.

“I knew I had to get ‘Milf’ on the field. He changed that second half and Jamayne is a great kicker of the ball,” Bennett said. “After four losses, you have to find a way to win and we found a way.”

The Titans celebrate a try to Brian Kelly. Picture: NRL Photos

WHAT A CHOKE

The Titans are the worst clutch chokers in the NRL and it will almost certainly cost them a finals berth.

This was a game the Coast should have won. Even without their Big Four Origin stars – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, AJ Brimson, David Fifita and Mo Fotuaika – the Titans had enough class in Foran and Campbell, who tormented the Dolphins to claim an eight-point lead at half-time.

In control, the Titans suddenly lost the plot, conceding three tries in 14 minutes as Jarrod Wallace (48th), Kenny Bromwich (59th) and Isaako (62nd) crossed to snatch a 20-14 lead.

The Titans have no byes in the run home and this loss leaves them languishing in 10th. The Titans are mentally soft. They don’t deserve to make the finals.

“I’m proud of the effort. We ride and die together, but we have to play tougher for longer,” Titans interim coach Jim Lenihan said.

Bad loss for the Titans in their battle
for the Top 8 but a great crowd once again on the Gold Coast.

3 of their last 4 homes games have been 18k plus.

18,335 this arvo but you gotta win those 😞#NRLTitansDolphins#NRLpic.twitter.com/1OKmypC45n

— The NRL Tweet (@NRLTweet) July 9, 2023

HEY PRESTO 2.0

Titans legend Preston Campbell was an instinctive genius and his son Jayden has inherited his father’s magical footballing DNA.

The absence of Brimson proved one thing: Campbell junior is too good to be stuck on the interchange bench.

Jinking like John Travolta, it was Sunday Night Fever for Campbell, who amassed a whopping 278 metres from 22 runs, 10 tackle busts, two line breaks and even saved two tries in three tackles in a fine all-round display.

He deserved to be in a winning team, but the Titans simply cannot hold their nerve.

“Jayden was fantastic,” Lenihan said. “It’s great AJ is playing Origin, but we have to look at ways to get quality players like Jayden on the field.”

Originally published as NRL round 19, Dolphins v Titans: Brave referee call lauded as Dolphins steal thriller