The Canberra Raiders were hoping to snag a top four spot, the Gold Coast Titans looking to move away from the wooden spoon.
In the end, just one side could prevail and that was the Raiders in a comprehensive victory.
Despite the favouritism tag given to the Raiders, it was the Titans who pounced first.
After 13 minutes, the Titans opened the scoring.
On the goal line, Tanah Boyd put a grubber through that was missed by Nick Cotric.
It bounced perfectly and Phillip Sami reaped the rewards.
Jamal Fogarty hooked the goal meaning the score remained at 4-nil.
However, this lead did not last long as the Raiders hit back after 5 minutes.
On the goal line, they went down a short side with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Nicoll-Klokstad threw a cutout ball for Nick Cotric to score in the corner and level the score.
Jarrod Croker hit the post on the conversion attempt so the score stayed at 4-all.
A few minutes later, a beautiful set play would get the Raiders the lead.
Jack Wighton got the ball on a short side and gave it to Elliott Whitehead.
Wighton received it on a wrap around to get the overlap and sent Jordan Rapana into space on the sideline.
Rapana drew in the fullback and passed to Wighton in support to score the try.
Croker converted to make the lead 10-4.
Not long after, the Raiders would find their way back to the goal line.
Wighton got the ball on a seemingly nothing play but managed to step his way over the line to get his double.
Croker converted again to make the lead 16-4.
With only four minutes left in the first half, Canberra would score their fourth unanswered try.
A few metres out from the line, Tom Starling dummied left and went himself to score from dummy half to get his first NRL try.
Jarrod Croker added the two to make the lead 22-4. This remained the score until half time.
The Titans got first points of the second half, 15 minutes in.
On the last tackle, Jamal Fogarty took on the line and popped out an offload for AJ Brimson to score.
Fogarty converted to lower the deficit to 10-22.
However, 5 minutes later, Starling sent Hudson Young over on a crash line to extend the lead again.
Croker converted to make the lead 28-10.
With 15 minutes left in the game, the Raiders would cross again.
Cotric intercepted a Sami pass and returned it to score and get the Raiders above 30 points.
Croker added the 2 to make the lead 34-10.
10 minutes later, Keegan Hipgrave crashed over for the Gold Coast under the posts.
Fogarty converted to make the score 16-34.
From the ensuing kickoff, the Titans were penalised for an obstruction.
Croker kicked a penalty goal to make the lead 36-16. This score remained until full time.
NRL News Player of the Game
3. Jack Wighton (CAN)
2. Tom Starling (CAN)
- AJ Brimson (GLD)
