Titans vs Roosters: Last-gasp Walker field goal saves Sydney’s blushes

The Sydney Roosters required a divine intervention from their 18-year-old star in order to defeat a fast-finishing Titans side in an instant classic.

Sam Walker helped save the Roosters’ blushes.

The Sydney Roosters have broken hearts across the Gold Coast with a 35-34 victory that will go down as one of the games of the season.

The Chooks raced ahead to a 30-4 lead in the 49th minute and appeared to be in complete control, but some quick thinking from Titans skipper Jamal Fogarty got his side back in the game.

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Little did the Titans’ halfback know that his try would spark a record-equalling comeback over the space of 17 minutes.

The Gold Coast side were given a penalty just 37m out from the Roosters line, and Fogarty caught the visitors napping.

He got the play underway instantly and ran straight at Sydney’s trainer, who duly got out of the way.

“A quick tap. Straight through. The trainer was in the way. The Roosters trainer has stopped the Roosters defence from making a tackle,” Andrew Voss said during Fox Sports’ coverage.

“Jarrod wants to challenge,” Greg Alexander replied.

“What, their own trainer?” Voss said.

“It seemed like something extraordinary needed to happen for the Titans to get a try,” Alexander said.

Voss added: “The water bottle could have tripped over Fogarty on the way through. It was more of a chance of making the tackle than the player. What a moment that is,” he said.

Trent Robinson’s side watched their lead evaporate in a momentary implosion, and the Titans took the lead towards the end of the game thanks to a Kevin Proctor four-pointer and were up 34-30 with only eight minutes left on the clock.

Joseph Manu celebrates after bagging a try early in the second half.

Relentless pressure from the Roosters eventuated in Matt Ikuvalu somersaulting into the right corner to bring the scores level to 34-34 four minutes from the final siren, leaving it all up to a conversion to nudge the Roosters in front.

However, Sam Walker shanked the kick short well wide to send the game to a grandstand finish.

Lachlan Lam had a crack at a long-distance 2-point field goal but it didn’t clear the bar, and allowed the Titans to kickstart a move of their own.

A dropped ball from David Fifita in Gold Coast territory handed the Roosters the ball as they found themselves in a prime position for an extra point.

Sam Walker atoned for his miss a few minutes earlier and nailed a field goal with just two minutes left, sending his side into absolute raptures.

Proctor’s try propelled the Titans into the lead, but it was not to be.

Justin Holbrook’s side were left with heads in hands and wondering what might have been, had they held on for a 26-point comeback that would’ve matched what the Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys achieved in 2009 and 1998 respectively.

The game wasn’t short of crazy moments before the Titans mounted their incredible fightback, either.

In the 18th minute, Angus Crichton crossed over for the four points in controversial fashion.

The forward poked his tongue out at Titans fullback Jayden Campbell when he appeared he’d score untouched, but Campbell wrapped him up and almost prevented Crichton from crossing over.

It appeared that the Roosters man utilised the dark arts of double movement to help him over the line, but after a bunker review, the try stood.