The Canberra Raiders NYC side has fallen 40-12 to the Gold Coast Titans in a disappointing display at Cbus Super Stadium.
Mistakes were costly for the Raiders as they allowed the Titans to get an early lead. It also prevented them from creating any offensive pressure on the Titans line while having to deal with extra defensive pressure because of those mistakes giving the Titans good field position.
Even when they found themselves in good attacking positions they were unable to create any decent opportunities to get on the score board. The end of the second half was by far their best passage of the game and they will be looking to build on heading into next week.
The Titans were able to get the scoring underway early. The Raiders made a silly mistake coming out of their own end and the Gold Coast side took full advantage. They spread the ball out wide and found Greg Leleisiuao who scored in the corner. The score remained 4-0 after Shaun Hudson missed the conversion.
It was back to back after the Titans got across in the corner again. A good pass from Rory Humphreys found Tyronne Roberts Davis with space in front of him to crash over in the corner despite the best efforts of Jack Hickson who tried to get him into touch. Hudson was successful with the conversion for a 10 point lead.
The Raiders make a great break through the middle with Tevita Pengai Junior breaking the line however the pass off to Lachlan Lewis was too high and put down.
From there the Titans scored their third unanswered try in the 20th minute. After the Raiders mistake Leleisiuao drew in the Raiders winger and put Hudson through to score despite the attempts of the Raiders defence to stop him. Hudson’s successful conversion made it 16-0
Another try for the Titans made it four unanswered tries. The Raiders had a chance to attack however missed out on that opportunity. The Titans moved up the field and after Daniel Schwass found space after running out from dummy half Roberts Davis scored his second crossing in the corner again. Hudson made it a 22 point lead with another successful conversion.
The Titans scored their fifth unanswered try of the first half in the 35th minute. After some sustained pressure on the Raiders line Simione Fatefehi used his strength to get across the line and with the conversion successful it was 28-0.
The second half continued the way the first half ended for the Titans. A well weighted chip kick found Roberts Davis who passed off to Humphreys to score in the corner. The conversion was taken by Brayden McGrady who missed to leave it at a 32 point lead.
The Titans scored another try in the 59th minute to make it seven unanswered tries. A strong run up the middle from Max Elliot created a great opportunity. The Gold Coast side used it well with a cuttout pass from Schwass finding Roberts Davis for his hat-trick. McGrady missed the conversion again for the score line to remain 36-0.
The misery continued for the Raiders as the Titans scored again in the 68th minute. Leleisiuao scored his second of the game after he was found in space on the wing yet again and raced down to score in the corner. Roberts Davis took the conversion but was unsuccessful to leave it at a 40 point lead.
The Raiders were finally able to get across the line to score in the 72nd minute. A cross field kick from Lewis found Kalani Going who used his strength to get across the line under the post with Tre Williams able to convert for a 40-6 scoreboard.
A second try for the Raiders added to the conciliation points late in the game. Kody Parsons scored after Williams put him through at short range and then stepped up to convert to make it 40-12.
Gold Coast Titans 40 (Roberts Davis 3, Leleisiuao 2, Hudson, Fatefehi, Humphreys Tries; Hudson 4/5, McGrady 0/2, Roberts Davis 0/1 Goals) defeated Canberra Raiders 12 (Going, Parsons Tries; Williams 2/2 Goals)
