We all expected a good match in the QLD derby and we were not disappointed as the Gold Coast Titans defeated the Brisbane Broncos 19-18 in a thriller.
It was a Lauren Brown field goal in the second half of golden point that gifted the Titans their second win and gave the Broncos their second loss.
As both sides had their chances earlier to ice the game, it was eventually Brown, perhaps an unlikely option, who slotted the winner.
The early ascendancy in the match was all with the Broncos as they were forced to field two new wingers in Lauren Dam and Jasmine Fogavini due to injury and suspension.
It would be Dam who opened the scoring as she got around the outside with the overlap, bust a tackle and scored the opening try.
An Ali Brigginshaw masterclass then saw the Broncos go up 10-0. Brigginshaw would chip over the top with Shenae Ciesiolka regaining the ball and finding Hayley Maddick to score.
But the Titans, who would be forced to come-from-behind for a second straight game, did not give up and they were justly rewarded.
Niall Williams-Guthrie produced a beautiful flick pass off a right shift to put Emily Bass over easily.
This was quickly followed by a try to custodian Evania Pelite as she dinked and weaved her way inside Broncos defenders.
At 10-all, the early second half saw the arm-wrestle appear as both sides went set-for-set.
A bit of magic is what was needed and Gayle Broughton would provide that.
She took the line on, went past her former 7’s teammate in Williams-Guthrie and raced past Pelite to score a try.
The Broncos had the perfect chance to extend and potentially ice the lead but Chelsea Lenarduzzi lost the ball over the line.
It proved costly as the Titans front-rowers combined; Shannon Mato finding Jessika Elliston who bustled through and scored.
Both sides had field-goal chances later before golden point but Brown, as cool as a cucumber, slotted the goal.
Gold Coast Titans 19 (Bass, Pelite, Elliston; Goals: Kiria-Ratu 1, Brown 1; Field Goals: Brown 1) def. Brisbane Broncos 18 (Dam, Maddick, Broughton; Goals: Brigginshaw 2).
NRL News NRLW Player of the Game
3. Niall Williams-Guthrie (GLD)
2. Shannon Mato (GLD)
1. Annetta Nu’uausala (BRI)