The Gold Coast Titans and New Zealand Warriors may have their respective struggles but the two did battle in an error-riddled contest.
It was quite literally a tale of two halves, like many rugby league games often are.
The first half belonged mostly to the Warriors, the second to the Titans.
Trailing 12-0 early, it looked like the Titans might be in for a long night but they rallied strongly.
The Warriors season will take a further hit when three players will be allowed to leave for family reasons.
Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and David Fusitu’a will all head back to New Zealand after next week’s game.
“With everything going on in Victoria it just looks more and more certain that we’re staying,” said Warriors coach Todd Payten.
“There’s a few guys who have expressed that they need to go home for family reasons which is understandable.
“We’ve given them a promise that can happen after the Cronulla game.”
The Warriors were wearing their ‘bush shirt’ jersey, emblazoned with gold and black squares as as tribute to the city of Wellington.
It was the Tuivasa-Sheck show early on as speed, power and skill, proved too much for the Titans defence.
His nifty footwork saw him slice through the line and open the scoring in the game.
The second Warriors try came to Maumalo, with Peta Hiku laying on a lovely pass for his winger to score.
The Titans did score in the first half through winger Anthony Don after he stepped inside several players.
Though it was a half that mostly belonged to the Warriors who also had a Jack Hetherington try disallowed for a push.
In attack, the Titans could not hold onto the ball. In defence, however, they were resolute and tenacious.
Tyrone Peachey did his best to emulate the iconic Greg Inglis throwback try for the Kangaroos and it paid off.
Chasing an Ash Taylor grubber, Peachey flung himself over the dead-ball line and threw the ball back in.
There to pounce was Titans back-rower Sam Stone. The Warriors lead was cut to just two points.
Taylor would leave the field with fifteen minutes to go due to concussion, with the Titans hopes resting with Jamal Fogarty.
It would be Fogarty and rookie Beau Fermor who combined.
Fogarty’s grubber found Fermor, playing at centre, who pounced on the kick to score.
It broke a 10-game home drought as the Titans continue to show their resolute nature this season.
Fogarty pushed his injured team-mate Keegan Hipgrave to power on, knowing how important he was to the side.
“Keegs is a bit nuts in the head at times. He is tough as, one of the toughest blokes I have ever met,” Fogarty said.
“It was a credit to him that he was out there for 65 minutes busted and came up with a crucial tackle that turned the ball over.”
Despite everything they have been through and the challenges they still face, Payten believes the Warriors have the makings of a strong club.
“It has got the bones of a really strong club, “Payten said.
“It is something that we have to work on. I don’t think it will take a lot of time.
“What everyone aspires to, I think we have got the foundation of it right.”
NRL News Player of the Game
3. Keegan Hipgrave
2. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
- Jamal Fogarty
