The Titans held off a second-half comeback from the Eels to win 18-16 at AAMI Park and keep their NRLW finals hopes alive heading into the final round of the regular season.
After scoring three converted tries in the first half to lead 18-4 at the break, the Titans failed to score a single point in the second stanza, while the Eels stormed back into the contest with converted tries from Simaima Taufa and Rima Butler which set up a thrilling final five minutes.
The result, which was the Gold Coast's first win of the season, means the Titans will go into the final round with a mathematical chance of making the top four, regardless of other results in round 4, while the Eels will be eliminated from contention if the Broncos beat the Dragons on Saturday afternoon.
Mato muscles her way over
Titans coach Karyn Murphy made a late change to move Evania Pelite from centre to fullback, in what proved to be an inspired move.
Pelite breathed new life into the Titans' spluttering attack, which had averaged just 9.3 points scored through the first three weeks of the competition, carrying the ball for 266 metres and breaking through 11 tackles from the back.
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Veteran forward Stephanie Hancock and Māori All Stars prop Shannon Mato set the tone with dominant performances in the middle of the park, which included both getting over for tries.
In a beaten side Taufa was outstanding, making 43 tackles and carrying the ball for 154 metres.
Taufa does it all herself
Match snapshot
- Stephanie Hancock was first to score, crossing for her fourth try of the year which put her to the top of the NRLW try-scoring list for 2022.
- Shannon Mato got the Titans' second on 13 minutes, with Lauren Brown adding her second conversion for a 12-0 lead.
- Eels wing Zali Fay then wrestled her side back into the contest with a try, but a minute from half-time Jessika Elliston struck a blow to Parramatta with a third Titans try, which Brown converted.
- Simaima Taufa's brilliant individual effort early in the second half, followed by Tayla Preston's conversion, reduced the deficit to eight, before Rima Butler crossed to set up a thrilling finish.
- The Gold Coast completed 94 percent of their sets, making just four errors all game.
- The Eels averaged 43 missed tackles per game through the first three rounds and missed 31 against the Titans.
Play of the game
With her fourth try of the year - which saw her shoot to the outright lead on the 2022 NRLW try-scoring chart - Stephanie Hancock set the tone for her side. A spirited charge from close range, the effort epitomised the improved attitude the Gold Coast pack brought to the game.
Hancock is a try scoring machine
What they said
"We probably got the result we deserved today. To go out with the sluggish start that we had, to play the footy, to make the decisions that we had in that first half, particularly on some of the stuff we'd practiced around - Steph Hancock close to the line and some of those tries we conceded - [it] just showed that we weren't in the right spot at the start of the game." - Eels NRLW coach Dean Widders.
NRLW Eels: Round 4
"They had a great week at training this week and the first half in particular, and how they started, was how they have been training, so it was good to see them do that. Huge relief today." - Titans NRLW coach Karyn Murphy.
NRLW Titans: Round 4
What's next
The Titans now face arguably the toughest ask in the NRLW right now, requiring a victory over the ladder-leading Roosters to give themselves a chance of jumping past the Broncos into fourth spot.
The Eels meanwhile will face the Broncos in round 5 and will know ahead of the match if they still have a chance of qualifying for the finals.