Titans lock in historic home NRL final
In just their third season in the NRL, the Gold Coast Titans have their eyes very much on pinching the minor premiership from under the noses of St George Illawarra and the Bulldogs.
The unheralded Titans booked their place in the finals courtesy of a 20-10 win over Cronulla on Sunday and coach John Cartwright said there was no reason his side third-placed side couldn't finish top of the ladder at the end of the season.
"We still want to win our next two games. I mean the minor premiership is not out of the question if we win our next two games," said Cartwright.
The victory, the Titans' 10th in 11 games at Skilled Park this season, guaranteed a top-four spot and a home tie in the first week of the finals.
Reigning premiers Manly moved ominously back into fifth position with a gutsy come-from-behind 20-16 win over Melbourne on Sunday.
It was the Sea Eagles' first victory at Olympic Park with Jamie Lyon, who played through the pain barrier after injuring his shoulder in the first half, grabbing the winning try in the second period.
Lyon will undergo scans on Monday and drew praise from coach Des Hasler.
"It was a great effort to come back on," Hasler said.
"He's a class player and we certainly needed him."
Craig Bellamy's side remain fourth, but have lost three of their past four games, not tasting victory since Greg Inglis was stood down.
Bellamy slammed his players and warned they will miss the finals if they fail to beat Sydney Roosters and the Warriors in their last two games.
"We did a lot of good things in defence but our attack was way off," Bellamy said.
"We spoke about it at halftime but I may as well have saved my breath. If we lose the next two games we're not in the semi-finals. I don't know whether some of our players have lost focus of that factor."
Newcastle staged a magnificent second-half fightback against North Queensland on Saturday to win 32-26.
However, it will be a nervous wait for veteran winger Adam MacDougall, who was put on report for a high shot on Cowboys' utility Travis Burns.
The decision left MacDougall mystified and he accused the Cowboys of trying to get him to throw a punch.
"I wasn't even in the tackle so I don't know what it was for, I was just in shock, at the end there," he said.
"The Cowboys were trying to get me to react and throw a punch. But I was aware they were trying to bait me."
The defeat was a huge setback for Neil Henry's side who remain in 11th place and must rely on other results to have any finals involvement.
Parramatta will also have an anxious wait to see if superstar fullback Jarryd Hayne avoids punishment by the judiciary.
Hayne was accused by Tigers coach Tim Sheens of elbowing Gareth Ellis in the face in Friday's absorbing encounter at the Sydney Football Stadium and the tape will no doubt be scrutinised by the panel on Monday.
Prop Bryce Gibbs will also be on tenterhooks after being reported for kneeing Luke Burt in the back as the Eels winger scored in the first half.
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