NRL: Year without a win ends for Gold Coast Titans against Wests Tigers

It had been 364 days since the Gold Coast previously tasted victory, but they made every second of those 12 months count.

Phillip Sami scores in the dying minutes to claim a drought-breaking win for the Titans. Picture: AAP

It had been 364 days since the Gold Coast Titans previously tasted victory.

But they made every second of those 12 months count on Sunday night, as they finally delivered a win in spectacular fashion at Suncorp Stadium, defeating the Wests Tigers 28-23.

Phillip Sami will go down as the hero who scored the winning try, snatching the four points off the back of a desperate Brian Kelly kick in the dying minutes.

But really, every single Titans player poured their heart and soul into that win.

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It was the first NRL victory for coach Justin Holbrook and it has lifted the Titans off the bottom of the ladder and ended an absolute horror run for the embattled club.

They were staring down the barrel of their 15th straight loss, but it was clear from midway through the first half that the Titans were not going to go down without a fight.

The Tigers raced out to a 12-0 lead, but the Titans fought back to go into halftime locked at 12-all.

It was the kind of fight and composure that fans and critics alike have been waiting to see from the Gold Coast for a long time.

Their efforts appeared doomed when once again Wests put on two quick tries in the second stanza, taking a 22-12 lead by the 53rd minute.

But it was million-dollar man Ash Taylor who helped bring his team back into the game.

While Keegan Hipgrave scored just before the 60th minute, Taylor evened things up with 10 minutes to go, putting through a perfectly placed grubber for Kelly.

It all seemed over for the Titans when veteran Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall kicked a field goal with just three minutes left on the clock, but the Gold Coast were not done yet.

Holbrook’s message before kick-off was to play smart. And that’s what the Titans did.

It wasn’t always perfect – it was often messy and chaotic. But it’s exactly what the Titans needed to kickstart their season.

Holbrook toasted his team’s character after they came back from 12-0 down in the first half and 22-12 in the second to upstage the Tigers.

“It’s obviously great to get the win and in that fashion,” Holbrook said. “The way we came back in both halves, fought our way back into it, I am very happy for the club.

“That’s the most pleasing thing, it was great character from the boys.”

They still have a long way to go, but as the only Queensland team to claim a victory in the NRL this weekend, there will be plenty for the Titans to celebrate.

They fought hard, showed plenty of grit and a great amount of heart.

It was a real show of resilience that they have not always displayed and the key for the Titans now will be to build upon this as they turn their attention to the Rabbitohs on Saturday.