On Friday night the Chooks travelled to Suncorp Stadium to take on the favoured Titans, and despite a gritty start to the first preliminary final Sydney eventually opened the score up and flew away with a comprehensive 32 – 6 win in front of a monster 44,780 plus crowd.

The Gold Coast are now out of the competition with no more chances left to make their first Grand Final appearance.

The Roosters began their five-tries-to-one victory just 11 minutes in when winger Sam Perrett opened the scoring with a thrilling four-pointer converted by Dally M medallist Todd Carney so the visitors had an early six point advantage.

Sam Perrett paid out on the 1^st Tryscorer markets & the best odds were at SportsBet

It didn’t take long for the Titans to answer back with young William Zillman opening the home side’s account in the 19^th minute after leaping onto a deft kick from skipper Scott Prince.

Zillman’s try was then converted by Prince to tie the score six all and the frantic fans in the crowd were expecting the game to continue in a similar try-for-try fashion.

Things were still close at the break as just one more first half try was scored when Perrett made it a match double in the 24^th minute and Carney’s conversion pushed the Chooks into the lead 12 – 6.

But back for the second half Sydney quickly gained unstoppable momentum and outplayed the Titans.

Fans that got onto the Roosters juicy early odds at SportsBet were well rewarded as they were the favourites by halftime

The Roosters ran in three more unanswered tries while also managing to stop the Gold Coast from posting any more points.

There was one moment that marred the Chook’s success when Carney was put on report for a careless high shot on Scott Prince.

But with a perfect previous record, Carney was later cleared to play in the Grand Final.

First ex-Titan Daniel Conn crossed in the 49^th minute, followed by a 63^rd minute four-pointer for skipper of the year Braith Anasta and with Carney booting two from two the Roosters had a comfortable 24 – 6 lead.

With a little over 15 minutes left on the clock the Gold Coast were still in with a chance, but couldn’t break through the Chooks line and time quickly ran out for them.

With two minutes left on the clock celebrations had already begun for Sydney, then a 78^th minute penalty was awarded to Sydney that Carney kicked for an extra two points.

In the final seconds of the match the players started to shake hands with the result obvious, when Frank Paul Nuuausala snuck in a final try in the 80^th minute to ice the cake for the Chooks.

The Roosters now face their toughest test of the season when they take on the Dragons at ANZ Stadium in this Sunday’s Grand Final. If you fancy the Chooks to cause another upset and go all the way then now is the time to jump on their odds at SportsBet!

The Gold Coast crew started as the favourites for Friday night’s clash and despite their star fullback Preston Campbell ruled out of the match and a host of their other top players hosting injuries, they put pain aside and held strong for the home crowd!

The Titans are now the $4.50 second favourites to win the NRL Premiership through SportsBet

New Zealand got off to a good start when Aaron Heremaia scored seven minutes in with James Maloney posting the extra two points with the conversion.

Ten minutes later the Titans answered back when stand-in fullback William Zillman opened their account with his first of an eventual two tries for the night, pouncing on a Scott Prince grubber to score.

Scott Prince tied the score six all with his successful kick and supporters of both sides making up the 27,020 strong crowd were now fired up!

In a devastating finish to the first half for the visitors, the dominant Titans ran in three more unanswered tries in a stunning 10 minute stretch to take an emphatic 22 – 6 lead to the sheds.

First Clinton Toopi scored the home side’s second in the 27^th minute, followed by Zillman completing his double six minutes later and then veteran Mat Rogers crossed again in the 36^th minute giving him another great memory to retire with at the end of the season, and Prince kicking two from three.

Back from the halftime break, the Titans were first to post more points just five minutes in when they were awarded a penalty and Prince booted it through the sticks to extend their lead to 24 – 6.

Three minutes later the Warriors managed to narrow the margin by six when Joel Moon scored a converted try and New Zealand fans had their fingers crossed for a miracle comeback when the ever popular Manu Vatuvei got over in the 59^th minute.

After Maloney missed the third kick the Warriors trailed 24 – 16 and with 20 minutes still left on the clock the black and white army were back in the game.

Unable to score again, however, New Zealand were forced to say goodbye to their season thanks to Zillman diving on a spilt Warriors ball in the 64^th minute to save the game getting any closer.

Just 60 seconds later the result put beyond doubt when winger Kevin Gordon scored the Titans fifth try of the night in the 65^th minute so the Gold Coast finished 28 – 16 in front.

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The victory ensured the Titans of a home game semi, where they will play the flying Warriors, as they secured fourth spot on the NRL ladder.

In our Match Preview we tipped the Titans to win by 1 – 6 points and enjoyed a nice win as did any punters that took our footy tip!

Despite losing, the small margin was enough to keep the Tigers in the top three this season and the Wests will also host a qualifying final at home where they will play Roosters.

The close result from Friday has seen the Titans and the Tigers both installed as equal third-favourites to go all the way and win the Premiership at $7 through SportsBet.

The scoring got underway early in the match when the Titans Ashley Harrison got over in the seventh minute and Scott Prince kicked the goal to give the home side an early six point lead.

Just a few minutes later they extended their lead to the joy of the big home crowd with William Zillman scoring their second of the night and another excellent kick from Prince had them 12 points up after just 12 minutes.

Then disaster struck and Prince came off with what he thought could have been a broken collarbone after a big hit from Tigers prop Keith Galloway, the Titans quickly losing confidence without their skipper by their side.

Experience had Mat Rogers, retiring at the end of the year, understand how close this one was going to be as even though the Gold Coast were in front, the Tigers are known for their impressive second half comebacks and so the veteran kicked a field goal in the 29^th minute to put another one point buffer on the Titans lead and they went to the break 13 – nil ahead.

Wests might not have been able to score in the first half, but they had also held their own and stopped their rivals from scoring again after their opening blitz and so were still right in the game in terms of confidence at half time.

Then back from the break it took just five minutes for the Tigers to strike when Chris Heighington barged over to score their first of the night, and a successful kick by Benji Marshall narrowed the margin to seven.

Before the crowd could blink Wests were at it again, winger Lote Tuqiri getting over in the corner in the 47^th minute and Marshall made it two from two so it was a one point game.

A little over 10 minutes later the Titans fought back and young Kevin Gordon scored their third converted try of the night to give them a seven point lead again, the team getting some confidence after their captain was cleared and returned to the field to set up Gordon’s try with a swift cut-out pass.

But not ready to give up just yet, the visitors matched what the Titans were putting down and Gareth Ellis scored five minutes later after the Gold Coast’s Nathan Friend dropped a grubber, the kick bringing the margin back to just one measly point.

Two minutes from time the Titans received a penalty and Prince booted it through so they came away with the three point win in the end.

In our Match Preview we tipped the Titans to win by 1 – 6 points and enjoyed a nice win too as did any punters that took our footy tip!

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The Gold Coast are the form team of the month having won five on the trot including their 23 – 14 win over the Roosters last week.

Now second favourites at $6.50 through SportsBet to win the Premiership, the Titans are one of the NRL’s underrated teams and should be able to make it six straight here.

Cronulla have only won one game over the past two months and are last of the Premiership contenders. Unable to present much threat despite playing some decent footy, even at home on a Saturday the Sharks look in trouble.

This is the first time this season these two have played each other, the Titans winning last time they met back in Round 24 last year.

No surprises in the betting markets then with the Gold Coast hot favourites paying $1.45 at SportsBet and the Sharks at $2.82.

However, in a blow for the Titans two top players have been ruled out of the clash with Anthony Laffranchi (shoulder) and fullback Preston Campbell (hamstring) both sidelined. Zillman will move in from the wing to replace Campbell as the No. 1 and Greg Bird will come off the bench to play as five-eighth.

But with Prince, Gordon and Rogers all powerful arsenal it should still be a big win by the Titans, their first at Shark Park, on way to a real run at the shield as they have the consistency, skill and solid defence to outclass the Sharks.

Expect big efforts from Luke Covell and Trent Barrett as the boys play their final home game of their careers, but we’re afraid it will be a disappointing send off.

Footy Tip of the Match – Titans to win by 13 – 18 points at $5.25 through SportsBet

Current Head-to-Head Odds:

Sharks $2.82 – Titans $1.45 SportsBet

NRLleague Footy Tip of the Match:

The Titans have scored between 23 – 37 points in their past four games winning by a minimum of eight points while the Sharks have only been able to post between 4 and 22 in their last four. That’s why we are tipping the Titans to win by 13 – 18 points at $5.25 through SportsBet.

Round 25 Sharks Team:

1. Nathan Gardner 2. Blake Ferguson 3. Dean Collis 4. Ben Pomeroy 5. Luke Covell 6. Trent Barrett 7. Tim Smith 8. Kade Snowden 9. John Morris 10. Luke Douglas 11. Grant Millington 12. Anthony Tupou 13. Paul Gallen

Bench: 14. Adam Cuthbertson 15. Broderick Wright 16. Paul Aiton 17. Taulima Tautai

Round 25 Titans Team:

1. William Zillman 2. Kevin Gordon 3. Steve Michaels 4. Clinton Toopi 5. Greg Bird 6. Mat Rogers 7. Scott Prince 8. Luke Bailey 9. Nathan Friend 10. Matt White 11. Anthony Laffranchi 12. Mark Minichiello 13. Ashley Harrison

Bench: 14. Michael Henderosn 15. Brad Meyers 17. Bodene Thompson

Now in fifth spot on the ladder, the Titans are crawling their way closer to regaining a spot in the top four before the end of the season, posting back-to-back wins following their golden point victory over the Dragons in Round 20.

New Zealand, however, are just hanging onto their spot in the top eight following their second loss on the trot. The Warriors now have to dig deep to regain their earlier form that saw then string together five big wins.

On Sunday the Warriors got off to a dominant start scoring the first two tries of the game, one each to Simon Mannering and Lance Hohaia in the ninth and 14^th minutes.

James Maloney converted both tries and the home side enjoyed an early 12 – nil lead.

The early surge by the Warriors paid out to punters who bet on them to be the ‘First to 10 points’ at SportsBet

But just a few minutes later the Titans begun their comeback when Steve Michaels snuck in for a match double, scoring the Gold Coast’s opening two four-pointers in the 17^th off a Prince grubber and 34^th minutes.

Both of Michaels’ tries were kicked by Scott Prince and the two teams were at a lock 12 all heading into half time.

In the second half it was the Warriors again who started the better team, the ever popular Manu Vatuvei flying in with their third just three minutes back from the break after leaping on a Brett Seymour kick to push them in front 16 – 12.

But from there the Gold Coast scored three unanswered tries. Mat Rogers, who kicked the winning field goal against the Dragons last week, scored a match double with four-pointers in the 57^th and 71^st minutes and William Zillman getting another in the middle after running the length of the field.

Scott Prince booted two from three successfully so the visitors leaped in front for the win, the Warriors getting one final consolation try when Brett Seymour crossed in the 76^th minute.

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Gidley, keen to show NSW Origin selectors that he was worthy of another go despite having been forced to captain the Blues from the bench in Origin II, was powerful throughout the full 80 minutes allowing them to score their sixth win of the season and move up to 11^th spot on the ladder.

The weakened Gold Coast squad were forced to play without skipper Scotty Prince, out with a hamstring injury, and their often illogical and confused performance showed how badly they needed their captain’s guidance.

Newcastle were first to score on Sunday when Zeb Taia got over in the 7^th minute. Gidley, who had a perfect four from four record on the day, converted the first and the visitors led by six after the first 10 minutes.

In the 18^th minute the Titans started to gain some momentum as Ashley Harrison opened their account with a try converted by veteran Mat Rogers to tie the score six all.

Nine minutes later powerhouse Brad Meyers swung the score in favour of the Gold Coast with another converted try.

But Newcastle put in a brilliant fight and followed up with their second try just six minutes later when James McManus got over to again tie the score 12 all.

With three minutes of the first half left to play, Newcastle snared the lead with a nifty four-pointer from Junior Sau, the conversion giving the Knights an 18 – 12 lead heading into the break.

From the booming first half, fans were expecting a high scoring second instalment too. But it wasn’t to be as the two teams battled on through a gritty second half.

The Gold Coast got the first points back from the break when William Zillman scored an acrobatic try in the 52^nd minute, but Rogers missed the conversion and so they still trailed by two 18 – 16.

Then in the 67^th minute the Knights Wes Naiqama scored the match-sealing try, again converted by Gidley. With no more points scored, the Titans Brad Meyers shut down by a try saving tackle from Gidley in the last 10 minutes, the final result was then 24 – 16 in favour of the Knights.

In more bad news for the Titans, still number four on the ladder, they lost another two of their top players to injury throughout the course of the match with centre Sam Tagataese (shoulder) and winger David Mead (knee) joining their captain on the sidelines.

Despite Gidley’s inspiring performance on Sunday, Origin selectors have not opted to retain him as captain for the third and final Origin showdown Wednesday week, instead handing the honour over to the Sharks Trent Barrett. Read more about the squads for Origin III at State of Origin Teams.

This weekend the Titans and the Knights both have a bye to freshen up. Meanwhile there are five great matches scheduled for Round 17 including the Broncos v Wests Tigers on Friday night. Get in on the Rugby League Betting action with SportsBet today!

An early blow for the Gold Coast saw Preston Campbell ruled out after bruising his heel before the game and then midway through the first forty they lost their skipper Scott Prince to a torn hamstring that will see him out for at least a month.

With the gritty win, the Titans second in a row after they beat Manly 28 – 14 last week, they have maintained their spot in the top four while the Bulldogs have sunk further down the ladder into 14^th spot after suffering their sixth successive loss.

The Gold Coast enjoyed a sizzling start to the match with two tries inside of the first 11 minutes. First Kevin Gordon opened their account in the 8^th minute and then three minutes later Mark Minichiello scored again for the home side. Scott Prince converted one from two and they were in front 10 – nil early on.

The Bulldogs managed one first half try when the speedy Josh Morris got over in the 16^th minute. Bryson Goodwin converted and they trailed by just four.

But not wanting to give Canterbury too much confidence, the Titans scored their third first half try in the 20^th minute when William Zillman got over and Prince managed to convert only a few minutes before his game-ending injury to extend the Gold Coast’s lead 16 – 6.

No more tries were scored in the first half, but the Titans were awarded a penalty that was kicked by Mat Rogers, taking over from Prince, and they went to the break leading 18 – 6.

Just two minutes into the second half the Gold Coast scored what would be their final try, by Anthony Laffranchi. Rogers converted and it looked like it would be a long night for the Bulldogs who were now trailing 24 – 6.

But in an incredible comeback headlined by a Ben Barba double, Canterbury took advantage of a Titans outfit that had been weakened by the loss of their skipper and came within one point of breaking their miserable losing streak.

Barba scored his first converted try in the 59^th minute. Then, Jamal Idris backed up just four minutes later with a four-pointer of his own that Goodwin booted through the poles so they were down by six.

In the 75^th minute the Gold Coast’s Greg Bird kicked what would turn out to be the match winning field goal from nearly 30m out, as Ben Barba completed his match double just four minutes later. But even with the conversion Bird’s one point meant the Titans came away with the 25 – 24 win.

It was an important win for a team with a growing list of injured players, also including Luke O’Dwyer and Matt White.

This week the Titans head back to Skilled Park to host the Knights and the Bulldogs look in trouble of making it a 0 – 7 record on Monday when they head down to Canberra to play the Raiders. Check out SportsBet for all the odds!