North Queensland Cowboys recovered from last week’s record defeat to claim a 30-8 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday night. The win pushes the Cowboys into the top eight of the NRL, moving them closer to a finals berth, while the Titans remain in the bottom four following another heavy loss.
The Cowboys were coming off a devastating 82-12 loss to the Sydney Roosters but quickly lifted their intensity in a match played before 11,740 spectators. Despite a first half marked by numerous errors, North Queensland held an 18-4 lead at halftime, capitalizing on weak Titans defense and key moments from their young playmakers.
Cowboys halfback Jaxon Purdue, who was sin-binned early in the second half for a professional foul, made a strong impact upon his return. His 70-meter solo try in the 59th minute extended the visitors’ lead to 24-8 and effectively sealed the game. Purdue, along with teammate Jake Clifford, filled the playmaking void left by Origin star Tom Dearden, who remains sidelined with a leg injury and is expected back in coming weeks.
Titans coach Josh Hannay made four late adjustments to his lineup, including moving AJ Brimson to halfback to cover for the injured Zane Harrison. Brimson showed some attacking promise but the decision to omit a natural halfback, Lachlan Ilias, increased creative pressure on Jayden Campbell, who appeared uncomfortable in the role and made several errors during the first half.
Gold Coast dominated possession and territory for much of the match and held a significant penalty advantage but struggled to convert opportunities into points. Their attack lacked cohesion, with key players such as dummy-half Sam Verrills and lock Chris Randall failing to provide effective service and support.
The Titans, who had high hopes during the preseason, have now suffered back-to-back heavy defeats against the Warriors and Cowboys, raising questions about their form as the final rounds approach. Hannay’s team has matched the win tally of the previous season’s coach, Des Hasler, but pressures are mounting to demonstrate improvement in the closing stages.
The Cowboys opened the scoring quickly, with tries from Jason Taumalolo and Clifford exploiting defensive lapses to build a 12-0 lead inside the opening 12 minutes. The Titans fought back with a try to Phil Sami, who also equaled Anthony Don’s record as Gold Coast’s highest try-scorer with his 85th touchdown. However, North Queensland’s Heilum Luki proved decisive, crossing twice—including a strong finish that broke past Titans fullback Keano Kini late in the match to secure the victory.
The result marked a strong statement from the Cowboys after their recent setback, underscoring their resilience as they aim to lock in a place in the NRL finals. Meanwhile, the Titans face a crucial period to arrest their slump and salvage their season.