Walters hails Broncos' resilience after history-making comeback

Gamble, 24, was playing just his fourth NRL game since debuting for Wests Tigers in 2018 and may just be the man to lead the Broncos for the rest of the season so impressive was his performance after Walters axed Brodie Croft and Tom Dearden.

"He has been waiting a long time for his opportunity," Walters said.

"He has played three or four years of Intrust Super Cup and played consistently well there. I could see through the week he was taking ownership of the team from the first training session.

"He has a loud voice and is clear in his directions and that's what we've been lacking the last couple of weeks.

"He had some nice touches, good kicks and defensively did a great job on David Fifita."

Broncos fullback Jamayne Isaako finished with two tries, two try assists, nine tackle breaks and 20 points in the ultimate rocks and diamonds game after he was caught out of position as the Titans scored their first three tries from grubber kicks.

"He showed great resilience to get himself back in the game," Walters said.

"He has shown in different stages throughout the first eight weeks he has some great skills. He is at the start of his career and the start of his journey as a fullback.

"He is learning every week and the good thing with Jamayne is his attitude, he wants to get better."

For Walters it was a welcome pressure release by his men who’ve been accused of giving up far too easily but instead completed the club’s greatest comeback.

The previous best had come against Canberra in round eight, 2006 when the Broncos' last premiership-winning team recovered from 18-0 down to win 30-28 at Suncorp.

"We are breaking records all the time this year, that's a good one to break," he smiled.

"Even at 22-nil down I wasn't too concerned, they were tries off some good kicks and sometimes you just can't defend those.

"To go in level at half-time I thought was a fantastic effort from our guys. It just shows they can do it.

"We had to fight hard for everything and I'm really happy for the fellas in the sheds in there.

"I believe a lot of what happened tonight was the work of the last seven weeks with their resilience and mentality. They came here with a strong mind tonight - it shows that if you come with a strong mind regardless of what you're facing you can get on top of it and get through it.

"It wasn't like the game was handed to us ... that is a good positive step for the Broncos this season."

A 95-metre intercept try by Corey Oates shortly after half-time proved a decisive moment as the Broncos edged ahead before former Titan Jesse Arthars put the Broncos two tries clear when Gamble and Isaako created space on the right edge.

The Titans had two tries denied within a minute to David Fifita and Brian Kelly before Mitch Rein scored to give the Gold Coast a chance at 36-28 going into the final 10 minutes, but this rollercoaster game had finally run out of twists and turns.

Gold Coast’s capitulation from a 22-0 lead will give coach Justin Holbrook more sleepless nights as the Titans have now conceded 112 points in three successive losses to Manly, South Sydney and now Brisbane.

It was the most bizarre first half of the season, eight tries in 40 minutes as both clubs attacked with reckless abandon and didn’t bother showing up in defence.

The Titans started like absolute world beaters. They had two tries in just five minutes and 15 seconds as Kevin Proctor and Corey Thompson pounced on sublime grubbers from Ash Taylor and Jamal Fogarty.

AJ Brimson was next across the stripe, the Titans' third try in just the 12th minute coming off another Fogarty grubber as Broncos fullback Isaako was left floundering in no man’s land.

When the Titans scored off the very next set, with Tyrone Peachey putting Brimson into space then getting the ball back to score the Gold Coast led 22-0 after just 14 minutes and the Broncos were headed towards rock bottom embarrassment against “little brother”.

But then, something strange happened, and it was almost as if the two teams traded jerseys as the Broncos started to play football and the Titans became turnstiles.

First it was Herbie Farnworth who scored after Milford combined with Isaako, then Isaako crossed from a no-look Milford ball where new halfback Gamble took the ball deep into the line to create space.

Suddenly, with two tries in just five minutes, the Broncos were back in the contest and trailed 22-12 after only 22 minutes. Six tries in the game after just 22 minutes of football. Neither side has scored so freely at training, let alone on game day.

When Brimson was sin binned for a professional foul on Gamble just before the half hour, the Broncos had a whiff of ascendency and they pounced with Xavier Coates scoring a near length of the field try after Isaako cut through feeble Titans defence on a kick return.

Isaako then had his double just before half-time with Tevita Pangai Jr involved twice in the play.

The Titans were shellshocked having seen their perfect start to the game, and 13 from 13 completions, undone by 21 missed tackles coming just a week after they conceded 30 points in the second-half fadeout to South Sydney.

They have eight days to try and turn things around before facing Wests Tigers at Campbelltown while the Broncos will take renewed confidence into their round nine showdown with the Cowboys.