Jeremiah Nanai presses Origin claims as Cowboys win 50-18 over Titans

After being relegated to the Queensland Maroons bench in Origin III last year, Jeremiah Nanai has sent a timely reminder to Billy Slater, as the Cowboys blitzed the Titans 50-18.

Jeremiah Nanai has sent a timely reminder to Maroons coach Billy Slater with a two-try outing as the Cowboys blitzed the Titans 50-18 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The Cowboys trailed 16-6 after 19 minutes but overran their Queensland rivals, putting on 44 unanswered points, which included Robert Derby’s first hat trick, as they surged back into the top eight.

Among a bevy of quality performances, the night belonged to Nanai.

Nanai was sensationally dropped to Queensland Cup duties after their season-opening loss to Manly, with his defensive deficiencies blamed for the demotion.

He returned to the bench for round three, but started for the first time since his recall in Saturday’s win against the Titans ­­– and the Cairns Kangaroos junior has found the form which has already earned him seven Origin berths, and appearances for Australia and Samoa.

Jeremiah Nanai sent a timely reminder to Maroons coach Billy Slater, stealing the show as he Cowboys blew the Titans away. Picture: Getty Images

He came up with a superb double – the first of which came when the Cowboys were reduced to 12 – to go along with more than 100 metres gained, as the Cowboys won their way into the top eight at the expense of a disappointing Titans outfit.

Gold Coast started well, and led 18-6 after 30 minutes, but the Cowboys saluted their home fans in their first game in Townsville in almost a month.

“You’re playing for more than the team,” said triumphant Cowboys half Tom Dearden.

“Townsville has the army here, it’s so important to the community here, it was great to put on a good performance for them.”

Rob Derby scored his first NRL hat trick, the last a penalty try after he was impeded by Alofina Khan-Pereira, with Cowboys coach Todd Payten praising the return of the PNG-born Cairns junior’s confidence in recent weeks.

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK

Payten was also rapt with Tom Dearden’s performance, describing it a captain’s knock after missing a session through the week through illness.

Dearden ran for more than 200m (per NRL.com), and was credited with five try assists and four line break assists.

“His ball-playing has come along in leaps and bounds too,” Payten said.

“I thought it was a captain’s knock.

“If I sent out a message after a try or them scoring, the feedback I was getting was that he was already telling the players the message by the time he got out there.

“I’m glad he’s ours.”

START FAST, FINISH FLAT

Jake Clifford opened the scoring for the Cowboys but the Titans hit back in a 25-minute period which showed why they were in for a big year.

But the absence of Jayden Campbell became clearer the longer the bloodbath went on.

Jojo Fifita, Brian Kelly and Beau Fermor sent the Titans from 6-0 down to 16-6 ahead in a five-minute blitz which left the QCB Stadium fans silent.

The 30th minute no-try against Fermor could’ve been the moment which sent the Gold Coast on their way, but it ultimately let the air out of the Titans’ tyres.

They offered barely anything in attack for the next 50 minutes, while the tired defence, reduced to 12 men twice, failed to keep the Cowboys out as they accumulated more than 40 missed tackles.

“We were cruising okay, I think they had one in the sin bin and scored against us,” Hasler said.

“The second half, we played 20 minutes with 12 men, so that’s always going to be tough. It’s something we need to address, and address quickly.

“We need to be better.”

SIN CITY

Clifford was the first man marched for a professional foul in a sequence which left commentators baffled.

Clifford was controversially sin binned over a bizarre no try, which was deemed a professional foul by the bunker despite two Titans being off-side in the play.

Weaver took on the line and while his grubber was nothing flash off the boot, Clifford held him back, preventing his chase.

Fermor claimed the try, and Weaver got a hand on the Steeden, but Mo Fotuaika was ruled to be “passively” off-side – nullifying Fermor’s efforts.

The controversial no-try. Picture: NRL Imagery

It meant Fotuaika was unable to play at the ball, but also allowed for Clifford’s professional foul to be properly penalised.

Jaiman Jolliffe was next to go, just before half time, after being pinged for a high tackle in a previous set.

Brock Gray was sin-binned in the second half, with the Cowboys scoring three converted tries during the combined 20 minutes of 13 v 12.

“The sin bins… I think they’re inconsistent,” Hasler said.“We can’t control that.”

Originally published as Jeremiah Nanai presses Origin claims as Cowboys win 50-18 over Titans