The nib Newcastle Knights were defeated 38-8 by the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
While the red and blue staged a gutsy performance in the first 40 minutes to lead by two at the break, the Titans ran away with the score line in the second stanza, adding 32 points to their tally.
12 minutes in, Brendan Elliot was held up across the line before 19-year-old Sam Stone dived over for the Knights' first try in the 13th minute. Brock Lamb nailed the kick to see the Knights lead 6-0.
Big man Daniel Saifiti gave the traveling fans something to cheer about as he advanced the ball 50 metres with a steady run past defence before a penalty allowed Lamb to boot another two points.
In the 24th minute it was Jarryd Hayne to open the Titans scoring account, crashing through a wall of red and blue to score on the left edge. Ash Taylor with the kick to trail the Knights by two, 8-6.
Five minutes before the halftime siren, a dropped catch by Konrad Hurrell put the ball back in the hands of the Knights but he soon rectified his mistake, dragging Nathan Ross across the sideline to regain possession.
The Knights led 8-6 at the break.
The Titans’ Joe Greenwood got the home side in front for the first time in the match in the 43rd minute, before Hayne recorded his second try in the 49th minute for the Titans to lead 16-8.
A chip from the Titans’ halfback landed in the hands of Hurrell who slammed the ball over the try line in the 58th minute, handing the Gold Coast a 20-8 lead.
A strip from Greenwood resulted in another try for the Titans in the 67th minute before Hurrell crashed over for his second for the afternoon for the Titans to lead Knights 32-8.
Two minutes before the final siren, it was the Titans’ Ryan James who scored through the middle for the Titans to defeat the Knights 38-8.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights 8 (T: Stone, G: Lamb 1/1 PG: Lamb 1/1)
Gold Coast Titans 38 (T: Hayne 2, Elgey, Hurrell 2, Greenwood, James, G: 5/7)
SQUADS
Click here for the Round 9 Late Mail.
