NRL 2024: Campbell stars as Titans claim third straight win

Alofiana Khan-Pereira’s double not only took his season tally to 16 and made him the top try scorer of the season so far but it laid the platform for Gold Coast’s 24-16 win over Parramatta in front of 16,670 at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

The club’s sixth win of the season and the third in a row for coach Des Hasler ensures the Titans remain a chance to play finals. Gold Coast sit three points behind eighth-placed Manly.

Hasler labelled it an ugly win while captain Kieran Foran, celebrating his 34th birthday, said there remained work to do.

“It was a special win. We just wanted to keep rolling with the sort of form we have been,” Foran said.

“I don’t think we were at our best by any means but it was an important two points.

“We started well but we probably didn’t dominant possession that well.

“They played the majority of the game down our end which is not how you want to be playing footy. There is a bit of work to do there. We hung in there and gritty at stages which is the important thing.”

The Eels only try in the first half was a gift from Titans fullback AJ Brimson who attempted a high risk offload meters from his own line.

Parramatta caretaker coach Trent Barrett lamented the side’s lack of experience across the ground but praised the effort of the side.

“We just let them get away with too much of a start. Eighteen points at the beginning was a bit much,” Barrett said.

“They are a good side and we knew that. I’m more proud of the effort of our blokes. We have got a lot of young kids in there and blokes who haven’t played a lot of first grade.

“I thought Gutho (Clint Gutherson) and Reg (Reagan Campbell-Gillard) were outstanding for us. In terms of effort I’m really lucky they care because that could have got ugly. We need some troops back.”

Parramatta’s 12 errors came in good field position and stopped any chance the Eels had of building pressure away from home.

“It’s probably happened to us over the last five weeks where we put ourselves in positions to score without icing them,” Barrett said.

“I think we had three in the first half and two in the second half. We probably left five out there.

“You need to take them and we are not. It’s a problem for us as a club and our depth is really stretched at the moment for specialist outside backs. The blokes in there are doing their best but it is hurting us.”

FIFITA RESPONDS TO ORIGIN SNUB

David Fifita has responded to his latest State of Origin snubbing by producing another powerful performance for the Titans.

The league world was shocked to discover Queensland coach Billy Slater had left Fifita out of a team needing more grunt down the middle. Fifita was relentless against the Eels, laying the platform for Gold Coast with both his running and passing game.

The second rower was only stopped when he was forced off the field in the 61st minute due to a head injury assessment graded a category two diagnosis, freeing him to return to the field in the final minutes.

CAMPBELL’S DEFENSIVE FORTITUDE

Jayden Campbell has proven he won’t be a defensive liability for the Titans at five-eighth after putting on some of the biggest hits of the game.

The playmaker has been a huge threat to rivals with his ball playing ability alongside halfback Kieran Foran and any questions around his capabilities without the pill in his hand have been answered.

Campbell’s hit on Parramatta’s Jake Tago in the 19th minute popped the ball free 20m out from the tryline and led to a Titans try.

Campbell did it in his debut in 2021 against Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen and he did the same in his 50th game.

CONFUSION AROUND HEAD HIGHS

The NRL’s campaign against concussions has been at the forefront of the game so it came as a surprise when two clear high tackles didn’t result in penalties.

Play was stopped twice in a matter of minutes in the first half when players were caught high but play soon restarted without repercussion.

The calls will no doubt come under scrutiny for a code determined to show itself as a safe sport to play for juniors and seniors alike.

BRIMSON MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN

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AJ Brimson made a successful return from a groin injury, steeling Gold Coast’s lineup from fullback.

Brimson’s failed off-load in front of his own goal line may have led to an Eels try but it was his only blemish.

The Titans star was taken off 13 minutes into the second half with Hasler opting to manage the fullback that has been susceptible to injury.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Campbell stars as Titans claim third straight win