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An AJ Brimson double has helped Gold Coast secure a scrappy 30-20 NRL win over struggling Canterbury at CBUS Super Stadium.
It wasn't pretty but Gold Coast have hung on to claim a relieving NRL win over last-place Canterbury at CBUS Super Stadium.
After four losses in their past five matches, the Titans weren't exactly convincing but secured 30-20 win which was too close for comfort for coach Justin Holbrook.
Newly signed fullback AJ Brimson scored a double for the hosts to celebrate his five-year contract extension while prop Moeaki Fotuaika stood up brilliantly for a Titans team without suspended trio David Fifita, Herman Ese'ese and Tyrone Peachey.
The Queensland State of Origin representative played 60 minutes, making 10 tackle busts and setting up Brimson for the match-sealing try inside the final five minutes.
"Probably relief, it felt like that second half went for about three hours," Holbrook said of his feeling when Brimson secured the win with his late four-pointer.
"Just really important that we won tonight.
"Obviously a heavy loss last week ... really important for our season to get the win tonight.
"Moey, I thought he was terrific. I thought all our forwards were great tonight, they had to be and, yeah, just relieved that we got the win."
Gold Coast jumped out to an early 12-0 lead when Brimson and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui scored before a break from inside their own half led to the Bulldogs striking back through Chris Smith.
Phil Sami restored the Titans' two-try advantage before Nick Cotric's try on halftime gave the Bulldogs hope of a second win of the season.
Jarrod Wallace made the most of Dylan Napa being sin-binned for high contact against the Queensland Origin hopeful early in the second half but when Beau Fermor was sent to the bin himself later in the half, the Bulldogs again fought back into the contest with tries to Nick Meaney and Luke Thompson getting them within four.
Frustrated Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett said despite his team scoring 20 points for the first time this season, their inability to make good decisions under fatigue was a concern.
"We're not good enough when we're tired, and we've got to learn to do it," Barrett said.
"I know we're young but that's something we've got to learn to do.
"The try before halftime, crucial, and the try at the death, that's 12 points. You stop them, you win.
"A set of six only goes for 45 seconds, you've just got to keep getting through it and at the moment we can't at clutch times in the game."
As well as Napa and Fermor, several other players were placed on report for various incidents as the NRL's crackdown on contact with the head continued.
For the Titans, co-captains Kevin Proctor and Jamal Fogarty were caught out, while Sione Katoa (crusher), Chris Smith (crusher) were placed on report for the Bulldogs.
