NRL: Gold Coast Titans make Brisbane Broncos’ bad year worse

Broncos big-money recruit David Fifita was kept in check by the Gold Coast Titans as Brisbane went down 18-6.

David Fifita in training before the game. Picture: Annette Dew

The Gold Coast Titans did a hatchet job on Broncos big-money recruit David Fifita as the superstar copped a stinging reality check in Brisbane’s 18-6 derby defeat at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

Facing the Titans for the first time since inking a $3.5 million deal to join the club next season, Fifita was well contained by a pumped-up Gold Coast pack which showed no mercy for their future teammate.

The Broncos were banking on Fifita to carve up the Coast in a bid to impress his future club but it was the Titans who flexed their muscle to claim bragging rights over their marquee signing.

Underscoring the power shift between the clubs, the Titans claimed their second consecutive win over the Broncos, who crashed to their ninth straight loss — the worst losing streak in Brisbane’s 32-year history.

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The Broncos started well, striking first when Darius Boyd crossed in the seventh minute, but the Titans gradually took control and belted Brisbane in midfield to leave Big Brother in wooden-spoon territory.

Fifita was by no means poor. He amassed 150 metres, three offloads and one tackle bust, including the powerful 35th-minute charge in which he beat Ash Taylor and carried three Titans over the tryline, only to lose the ball as he was about to score.

But Taylor exacted revenge in the 44th minute, exposing Fifita’s defence when he sliced through inside his own 20m zone in the lead-up to a superb Titans try which gave the Coast a crucial 18-6 lead.

Premiership-winning coach Phil Gould took to social media to lash Fifita for his jumper grab on a night where the Coast were sharper and hungrier as the Broncos slumped to their 15th loss in 16 games.

Brisbane’s freefall this season has been so dramatic that the Titans have usurped the Broncos as Queensland’s No 1 team.

The Broncos have won a paltry three games this year. The Titans have won more than double with seven, including both M1 derbies, backing up their 30-12 thumping of the Broncos in round seven with this Robina triumph.

Sunday Mail