Over the next fortnight titans.com.au will take a look back over season 2016, highlighting some of the matches and moments that contributed to a successful season where the side made its first finals appearance since 2011. Today we will look back at the Round 4, 24-20 victory over the Canberra Raiders.
It was a match that after 20 minutes didn’t look like it was going to be a good afternoon for the Titans but in their true fighting style they stayed in the match and managed to cross in the final two minutes of play.
Two tries in 12 minutes to Jarrod Croker and Shannon Boyd gave the Raiders a 12-nil lead and it wasn’t until the 34th minute that Ryan James opened the account for the Titans. A try two minutes later to Edrick Lee off the back of a Josh Hodgson break really hurt the side, with the Raiders taking an 18-6 lead into the half-time break.
A penalty goal to start the second half extended the home sides’ lead out beyond two converted tries but those were the Raiders last points scored. Prop forward David Shillington took advantage of the napping defence to score against his old side in the 65th minute and when Zeb Taia went over in the 75th minute, it was just a two-point ball game with five minutes remaining. It may have been a controversial try that was awarded in the final two minutes to John Olive but with the on-field referee Henry Perenara calling ‘TRY’ on the field, the benefit of the doubt was given and the Titans had secured the win.
Gold Coast Titans 24 (James, Shillington, Taia, Olive tries; Roberts 1, Taylor 3 goals) defeated Canberra Raiders 20 (Croker, Whitehead, Lee tries; Croker goals)
At: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Crowd 11,039.
