An electrical storm at sunset provided the pre game entertainment at Darwin’s Richardson Park as the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans and the Cronulla Sharks delivered the top end an NRL spectacular.
The 9000 plus strong crowd didn't have to wait long for first points with Luke ODwyer’ barging his way over the line.
Making the most of the slippery conditions the Titans crossed again through Mark Minichiello, the boot of Scott Prince providing the Gold Coasters with a handy 12 point lead.
A dropped ball during the next set of six combined with some poor defence saw Cronulla reduce the deficit to six at the quarter time break.
Coach John Cartwright sent his starting 13 back out for the second period and after three minutes of play William Zillman looked set to register his first points in Titans colours, however the final pass from centre Josh graham was ruled forward.
Titan’s fans didn't have to wait too much longer for more points with Prince sending Brett Delaney through a yawning gap, the hardworking centre crossing untouched and taking the Titans to an eighteen , six lead.
Replacement forward Ian Donnelly then made an immediate impression, the big front rower barging over just seconds after taking the field.
Hit high early in the match, Jordan Atkins suffered a second high shot and was taken from the field, while at the other end of the field the Titans other winger, Esi Tonga found the try line after another Mat Rogers line break.
Esi’s good work was undone from the kick off with the Titans spilling possession, new Sharks signing Corey Hughes opening his point scoring account as the half time hooter sounded, the Titans in front twenty eight points to ten at the change.
As agreed both teams used the second stanza to experiment with their line up and it worked for the Titans with replacement five eighth Brad Davis weaving his way towards the line before flicking a pass out to Josh Graham who extended the Gold Coasters lead to twenty four points at the three quarter break.
After a period of play punctuated by handling errors, Cronulla’s Luke Simmons pounced on a grubber kick reducing the margin to eighteen points.
With new found sting in their forward pack, the Gold Coasters continually threatened the shark’s line, Brad Davis again bamboozling the Sharks defence before off loading to former storm flyer Sam Tagatese who crashed over between the uprights.
It was the final score of the night and the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans had collected the Top End challenge trophy, forty points to sixteen.
Coach John Cartwright delighted with the performance of his squad.
Cartwright said “It’s a trial and you cant get too carried away with the result, but what I was particularly pleased with was the effort of everyone from the starting thirteen right through to those replacements who came on and did their bit.”
“we let in a couple of soft tries and we won’t want to be doing that in a few weeks time, however I felt the entire forward pack really took control of the game at times and allowed our backline combinations to execute the game plan as we wanted to.”
Scott Prince playing his only trial before the Titans season opener against Newcastle on March 15 said the Titans tough pre season campaign had paid dividends in the tough humid conditions.
“We have certainly worked extremely hard on speed, strength and power during the off season with Chris Mclellan and I think it showed tonight, the forwards were great and laid a great platform for us to work with. There is definitely plenty to work with and we’ll only improve as a team the more we train and play together.”
The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans will play the New Zealand Warriors in their final pre-season trial at Lismore next weekend.
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