Titans produce Easter miracle with stunning 26-14 upset of Broncos at Suncorp Stadium
THE Titans have produced an Easter miracle, after three-try hero Phillip Sami helped bring the Gold Coast back to life with a stunning 26-14 victory over the Broncos.
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THE Titans have produced an Easter miracle, after three-try hero Phillip Sami helped bring the Gold Coast back to life with a stunning 26-14 victory over the Broncos.
Just one week after they were embarrassed 54-8 by the Dragons, the Titans have achieved what was thought to be the impossible, claiming their first win against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium since 2007.
From the very first minute, it was clear the Titans were determined to put last week’s nightmare behind them.
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They had not beaten the Broncos since 2014 and their last meeting in August of last year was the Gold Coast’s worst ever loss in club history, after they went down 54-0.
But last night, the history books were there to be rewritten.
With the Titans in the lead at 26-8, the Broncos came alive in the final 15 minutes, scoring a try through halfback Kodi Nikorima and throwing everything else they had at the Gold Coast.
It provided a nail-biting finish and it was clear the Titans players were absolutely drained, with exhausted props Ryan James and Jarrod Wallace both making crucial errors in front of their tryline.
In front of a hostile 30,742-strong crowd and under immense pressure, it seemed the Titans may let their surprise victory slip away.
But this night belonged to Garth Brennan’s men.
They dug in, fought hard and put on the kind of gutsy display their fans would have been craving.
The first indication there was an upset on the cards came after an early mistake from Broncos forward Korbin Sims saw the Titans quickly take advantage, with Kane Elgey putting Sami over in the corner.
Three minutes later, they crossed again after a bullet-like pass from Ashley Taylor saw former Bronco Dale Copley cross.
Andrew McCullough responded for the Broncos, but the Titans hit back again and again.
Sami crossed for another two – one off the back of a perfect but unexpected grubber from James and the other from another Elgey cut-out pass.
The 20-year-old gun also set up another four-pointer for fellow winger Anthony Don, with a stunning cross-field kick.
The challenge for the Titans now is to build off this momentum.
It was the exact kind of win they needed to kick-start their season and to prove they can be a force this year.
The game may have left them struggling for breath and walking around with their hands on their hips.
But if they want to stay in the winner’s circle, they will need to maintain this effort and show every doubter why they can’t be written off.
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Originally published as Titans produce Easter miracle with stunning 26-14 upset of Broncos at Suncorp Stadium