​Titans stun Bulldogs with stirring comeback

The Gold Coast Titans finished off their season in style beating the Bulldogs 19-18 in a Sunday afternoon classic at Cbus Super Stadium.

With the match having less of an impact on the makeup of the finals than other games in the round, this clash was meant to just be an early hit out for the Dogs who were finals bound while the Titans were no hope on finals football and they were playing for pride in the jersey they were wearing.

The 1st half went as per program with the Dogs getting out to an early lead through centre Tim Lafai who scored after some good lead up play from Reynolds who released Jackson through a hole and he could offload for Lafai to put first points on the board. The Dogs were in again soon enough when the big English international James Graham barged over from close range to extend Canterbury's lead. Reni Maitua then scored his first try for the Bulldogs since 2008 when he picked up the scraps and handed the away side with an 18-0 lead close to half time.

A few seconds before halftime saw an extremely strange twist of events. Josh Reynolds, with ball in hand heard the siren sound and then bizarrely threw the ball back in field which was caught by Don and the home side were away only for the touch judge to say Reynolds had a foot on the sideline before he handed off the ball.

Even with an 18-0 lead, the Dogs were unconvincing and still lacked a killer threat on the opposition line and although they headed into the sheds at the break with a handy lead, they needed to stay focused. What followed was a total role reversal in the 2nd half with the Titans coming out looking refreshed and determined to get back into the game, while the Dogs seemingly switched completely off, almost as if they were already focusing on next week's game before finishing off this one.

FaiFai Loa started the comeback as a dropped Sezer bomb was jumped upon by the Titans winger to get the home side on the board. The Gold Coast outfit had all the momentum when Anthony Don pounced upon a Mitch Brown dropped ball and raced 80m to score to bring the score back to 18-10.

The comeback was well and truly alive when retiree Mark Minichiello was able to score in the corner and bring the score to 18-14 with 8 minutes left on the clock. Three minutes later it happened: Takairangi was able to muscle his way over from dummy half from close range and level the scores with a minute left. It all came down to Daniel Mortimer to convert to complete the comeback. He was unable to convert as he hit the upright and the scores remained 18-18 and we went into golden point.

From a Titans knock in the 82nd minute, the Bulldogs had the first chance at field goal which was spooned inexplicably wide by halfback Trent Hodkinson and he was made to pay for that miss just a minute later as Zillman's attempt at went straight over the black dot and handed the Titans a miraculous 1 point victory and cued celebrations all over the stadium from players and fans alike who haven't had the happiest of seasons.

The Bulldogs will wonder what went wrong, but they will need to turn around their form and most importantly their attitude next week as they face a daunting trip south to Melbourne to face a red hot Storm outfit proving that they aren't past their best just yet.

GOLD COAST TITANS (19)
Tries: Kalifa Faifai Loa, Anthony Don, Mark Minichiello, Brad Takairangi
Field Goals: William Zillman (1/1)
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (1/3), Daniel Mortimer (0/1)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Timoteo Lafai, James Graham, Reni Maitua
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (3/3)

Welcome to the Gold Coast where the Titans will look to finish off their season with a win over the Bulldogs who with a win today shore themselves up in a finals position and head into the playoffs with some momentum.

The teams are making their way out onto the field and kick off is just minutes away.

2: Both teams complete their first sets and they are both looking to gain the upper hand.

4: Thompson allows a ball to bounce and he's driven back to his own try line. Dogs stuck at their own end.

5: Minichiello has lost the ball on halfway and the Dogs will start a set in a decent position.

6: Tony Williams has now come up with an error 20 metres out from the Titans line letting the home side off the hook.

7: Penalty Titans now with the Dogs not square at marker.

8: Mead loses the ball on the attack and it is picked up by Morris.

10: No score after 10 minutes with both teams trying to get into their groove.

11: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Timoteo Lafai. Kick to come.
TRY for the Bulldogs with Lafai going into score off a Jackson linebreak.

12: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson converts simply from in front.

13: Lafai makes a break and is held onto. Penalty Dogs.

14: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by James Graham. Kick to come.
The big Englishman is in next to the posts off a short ball from Ennis. Dogs getting into their stride now.

15: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson adds another two.

16: Dogs have made 60m on the first tackle and they are back on the attack.

17: Morris drops a Williams ball and that will lose the momentum for the Dogs.

19: Penalty Dogs with Falloon penalized for a dangerous tackle on Reynolds.

21: Drop out for the Titans as they look to get back into it.

21: Ioane offloads straight to Eastwood and the Dogs have it back.

22: Penalty Titans with Sezer stripped of the ball.

24: Roberts is tackled on the last and the Dogs defence holds firm.

24: Referee calls time off with Carter bleeding.

27: Sezer's kick on the last goes dead and the Dogs have the 20m restart.

28: Ennis grubbers in goal with FaiFai Loa taking it. Drop out.

30: The Dogs can't capitalize on their field position with Hodkinson's kick cleaned up by Don.

32: Thompson does well to get back into the field of play with the winger getting out to the 20 then drawing a penalty. Great play from the little Canterbury winger.

33: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Reni Maitua. Kick to come.
Maitua has his first try back at the Bulldogs with the ball going from Reynolds who batted the ball back and Reni drops it backwards then gets to the line extend the Canterbury lead.

34: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson converts to go to 3/3 for the day.

36: Dave Taylor is put on report for a back slamming tackle.

36: Klemmer is coming off the field now after that hard tackle from Taylor. Big Dave could be in big strife with that one.

37: Brown knocks on the high kick from Hodkinson.

39: Thompson loses the ball over the dead ball line and the Titans have a drop out.

40: All happening on the Gold Coast. Reynolds throws a ball back in field when he could of just taken it over the sideline, but the Titans can't take advantage of it and the away side go into the sheds with a handy lead.

41: Back underway on the Gold Coast.

41: Carter stays down after a Tolman tackle.

42: Titans have it back on halfway as they look to get in an attacking position.

43: Zillman loses the ball and the Dogs have it back. Titans struggling to break the away side's defence.

44: Titans have a penalty with Taylor held down.

45: Sezer's pass drifts forward and the Dogs have it back 10m out from their own line.

47: Dogs scrum feed with the kick going into touch. Dogs comfortable at the moment with Titans not offering that much in attack.

49: Penalty Titans with the Dogs not square at marker.

53: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Kalifa Faifai Loa. Kick to come.
The high ball is dropped by Thompson and FaiFai Loa gets a hand on the ball to get the Titans on the board.

55: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer misses his attempt.

56: Mortimer kicks deep and it just rolls over the dead ball line. Restart.

57: Pritchard comes on for his first run for a few weeks and carries defenders for a great hit-up.

58: Hodkinson knocks on a tough Ennis pass and the Titans are let off the hook.

59: Sezer goes for a chip but is taken by Perrett in the in goal.

60: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Anthony Don. Kick to come.
Brown knocks on an inside ball and Don picks it up and runs the length of the field to keep the Titans in this one.

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Sezer converts

62: Dogs offside from the kick off and the Titans have a head of steam now.

63: Roberts loses the ball and that is a momentum killer for the home side.

65: Minichiello is the one who gets the kick away and Perrett takes it well on the bounce as he tries to work it away from his own line.

66: Reynolds kick is too deep and the Titans get a 20m restart.

68: Eastwood takes the ball well in goal and he's tackled for a drop out. Titans trying to get back to within striking distance of the Dogs who haven't turned up 2nd half.

69: Titans unable to score there with Perrett doing well to get the ball back into the field of play.

70: Reynolds goes high to the corner with Thompson taking it then passing back for Lafai who knocks it on.

72: Titans keep on the pressure with a knock on spotted by the referee by Tolman who tried to clean up a Titans grubber.

73: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Mark Minichiello. Kick to come.
Minichiello has barged over from close range and the Titans have set up a grandstand finish here.

74: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer misses his sideline attempt.

76: Titans lose some momentum with a lost ball. Bulldogs scrum feed.

77: Reynolds kicks in with Zillman taking it well and getting back into the field of play.

79: Eastwood has dropped an inside ball and the Titans have a late opportunity.

79: Williams has hit Sezer late with a shoulder charge. He might be in trouble with the judiciary.

79: Williams is on report.

79: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Brad Takairangi. Kick to come.
Takairangi goes in for the Gold Coast and they have stormed back into this game in the 2nd half while the Dogs have switched off.

79: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Daniel Mortimer unsuccessful.
MORTIMER HITS THE POST.

80: The Titans try and go the length of the field with a play down the short side and a loose ball is dropped by Reynolds and the full time siren sounds! We are going to golden point!

80: Titans have knocked the ball on! Dogs scrum feed 30m out from the Titans line.

82: Reynolds field goal attempt misses!

83: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Field goal attempt by William Zillman successful.
ZILLMAN KICKS THE WINNING FIELD GOAL. TITANS WIN!