Defence is the building block for the Titans’ victory on the road.
The Gold Coast Titans have earned their second win of the season after they ran away with the game late to secure a 24-12 victory over the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium.
After giving up 42 points to the Wests Tigers in round two, The Titans were determined to make the Raiders work hard for every pint they score.
The Raiders were tackled in the Titans 20 metre area 57 times, with the extra starch in defence pleasing Albert Kelly, who scored two tries for the visitors.
“Last week was very disappointing, we went to training and determined to get a victory this week and I’m proud of the guys for doing it,” Kelly said.
“They had a lot of back to back sets on our line but we worked hard and did well to keep them.
The margin equals The Titans’ biggest win in Canberra, while the loss for the Raiders is their fifth in a row.
After a cautious start to the game from both sides, Titans hooker Beau Faloon scored the first try of the game when he caught the Raiders defence napping close to the line.
Despite being turned over by the Raiders defence, the away hooker showed great strength to get the bell down as his side grabbed a 6-0 lead.
Both the Raiders and Titans were guilty of mistakes inside their attacking 20 metre area, with the Titans noticeably missing the playmaking skills of Aiden Sezer.
The home side got on the board eventually when Jarrod Croker continued his hot start to the season with the Raiders’ centre taking the shot for goal to make it 6-all.
Anthony Milford continued his stellar start to season as he glided across the Titans’ try-line to give his side the narrow lead at the break, up by a converted try.
Canberra Raiders winger Edrick Lee suffered a tendon injury in his foot and did not return to the field in the second half in what was a blow for the home team’s attacking prowess.
The Titans got the start they were looking for when interchange forward Paul Carter touched down and when Greg Bird slotted a penalty soon after, they earned themselves a 14-12 lead.
However, a hamstring injury to Will Zillman meant the Titans had to reshuffled their line-up significantly, with David Mead going to the back and David Taylor to left centre after the Gold Coast fullback left the field in significant pain.
Both sides failed to captalise on chances to either put the game out of reach or get themselves in front, with frustrating penalties and cheap turnovers confounding the Titans and Raiders’ respective progress.
Greg Bird had a chance to put his side in front by four, but his shot at goal sprayed to the left from a relatively easy position, as the Raiders dodged a bullet.
However, it mattered little as Albert Kelly sliced through a tired Raiders’ defence with the halfback sealing the victory for the away side.
Bird missed again with his shot at goal as the score became 18-12.
After getting a late penalty the Raiders chanced their arm at an unlikely try to get level and send the game into golden time.
But a loose pass by the home side was scooped up by Kelly, who scooted away 50 metres
to score his second for the game as the away side secured a 12-poiint victory.
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