Key three: Halfbacks stand tall in golden-point thriller against premiers
Son of a gun Jayden Campbell has had a memorable final 40 minutes to almost steer the Titans to an incredible victory against the Panthers - the four-time premiers clinching the win 30-26 in golden-point.
Shutout at half-time 24-0, the rugby league world assumed it was game, set, match to Penrith, but Des Hasler's men had other ideas and fought to within an inch of coming back.
Sending the game to golden point, the reigning champions prevailed; but the Gold Coast crowd of over 18,000 stood tall at the fight shown in the finish.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 22 -
home Team
Titans
17th Position
away Team
Panthers
6th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Here are the key talking points:
Nathan Cleary, take a bow
There's no doubt Nathan Cleary will be a future Immortal and had the ball on a string for his side against the Titans in the first half, guiding them to a sizeable 24-0 lead in the opening 40 minutes.
With two try assists including helping his halves partner Blaze Taulagi pluck the ball out from AJ Brimson's grasp, it was then his heroics in the dying minutes, shooting a two-point field goal to put his side back in the ball game and send the game to golden point.
Like father, like son
Old Boys day on the Gold Coast and it was only fitting the son of a Titans gun was the star of the show for the home side, headlined by an incredible 90 metre intercept that got Cbus Super Stadium alive and roaring to mount the unthinkable.
Whilst all eyes were on Panthers No. 7 Nathan Cleary, Jayden Campbell stole the fanfare in the second 40 to help deliver an almighty comeback against the four-time premiers.
Against one of his old man's former sides - whom Preston won a premiership with in 2003 - Jayden put the team the team on his back and looked electrifying every time he touched the ball.
A performance to savour, he's well and truly proven his critics wrong in the halves.
Fighting finish
Down 24-0 at the break, the response from the Titans was nothing short of inspirational to get within a whisker of victory.
Beginning with Brian Kelly in the 48th minute, the momentum - largely thanks to Campbell - began to swing and the Titans kept fighting and fighting to eventually take the lead with five minutes to play.
Despite not walking away with the two points, the finish sets the platform for a strong Sunday next weekend up against the Rabbitohs in Indigenous Round.
