![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
The 11,740 that made the effort to get to Robina on a school night deserve bravery medals after sitting through an error-riddled first half which saw the Cowboys emerge with an 18-4 lead.<\/p>\n
The Titans dominated possession, territory, completions and were on the right end of an 8-2 penalty count \u2013 yet suffered another heavy loss to remain anchored in the NRL\u2019s bottom four.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the Cowboys (12-9) turned last week\u2019s 70-point loss into a 22-point win and are now one victory away from securing a finals return this year.<\/p>\n
PURRING PURDUE<\/p>\n
Cowboys coach Todd Payten wanted a response from his team after the lowest moment in the club\u2019s history and he got it after some nervous moments.<\/p>\n
The Titans looked to be working their way back into the game early in the second half at 18-8 when Cowboys halfback Purdue was sin-binned for a professional foul.<\/p>\n
But he returned with a bang, splitting the Titans apart with a 70m solo effort in the 59th minute to give North Queensland a 24-8 lead.<\/p>\n
Halves Purdue and Jake Clifford did enough in the absence of Origin star Tom Dearden (leg injury), who is due back in a few weeks.<\/p>\n
Kevin Walters called it a \u201cbig turnaround\u201d from the Cowboys, who can lock-up a finals berth against Parramatta in Sydney next weekend before a bye.<\/p>\n
SINKING TITANIC<\/p>\n
Titans coach Josh Hannay made four late changes to his starting side, including shifting AJ Brimson to the halves as injured halfback Zane Harrison\u2019s replacement.<\/p>\n
Brimson had some nice touches running the ball, but omitting a genuine halfback in Lachlan Ilias put more playmaking pressure on Jayden Campbell.<\/p>\n
An uncomfortable halfback, Campbell two uncharacteristic first half errors and struggled to inject himself into the contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe changes to their spine have really disjointed their attack… it took around 15 to 20 minutes for them to find any flow,\u201d Michael Ennis said on Fox League.<\/p>\n
With no clear general calling the shots, Gold Coast\u2019s attack was shocking as Sam Verrills provided poor service from dummy-half and Chris Randall got in the way at lock.<\/p>\n
Ilias must be wondering what he has to do to get a shot in the No. 7 jersey given this was the perfect opportunity to recall him to the NRL and let Campbell play his natural game at five-eighth.<\/p>\n
A pre-season of optimism for the Titans is long gone and some recent green shoots have been eroded by back-to-back heavy defeats to the Warriors and Cowboys.<\/p>\n
Hannay\u2019s Titans have won the same number of games (six) as Des Hasler did last year before being sacked and need to show some improvement in the final month of the season.<\/p>\n
The Titans struggled. (Photo by Chris Hyde\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
LUKI CRUISING<\/p>\n
Hannay fired a shot at the Cowboys in his pre-game cross when he called North Queensland a \u201cJekyll and Hyde\u201d team. Judging by the first half, he was on the money.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys burst out of the blocks to a 12-0 lead inside 12 minutes when Jason Taumalolo and Clifford exposed some weak Titans defence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were asleep again,\u201d said Fox League\u2019s Kevin Walters after Clifford strolled over untouched.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just poor defence. There was no communication from the Titans whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cowboys looked on song but suddenly put the cue in the rack and allowed the Titans to get back into the contest when Phil Sami crossed out wide.<\/p>\n
North Queensland was on the back foot for most of the second half until the Titans leaked another soft try, this time to a rampaging Heilum Luki to give the visitors an 18-4 half-time lead.<\/p>\n
Sami drew level with Anthony Don as Gold Coast\u2019s greatest ever try-scorer with his 85th four-pointer, but it was Luki who sealed the game for the Cowboys when he brushed off Titans fullback Keano Kini for his second.<\/p>\n
JUDICIARY WATCH<\/p>\n
Reuben Cotter was place on report early in second half for an unseen incident. Has two charges this season, a hip drop and a high tackle. <\/p>\n
Cooper Bai was placed on report for a crusher tackle just before the hour mark – No prior charges.<\/p>\n
STAT ATTACK (via Fox Lab)<\/p>\n
Expected Set Points: Titans 23.7, Cowboys 15.9 <\/p>\n
The Titans had the majority of possession (52%) and field position (84 tackles to 50 in the opp half, including 39 tackles to 12 in the 20) but could not convert this into points. The Cowboys made five linebeaks to three, and scored several long range tries to take the game away from Gold Coast. <\/p>\n
A 92 point positive turnaround for the Cowboys, the equal sixth biggest in history, and the biggest since Penrith in 2008 (Lost by 62, won by 36). <\/p>\n
The 22-point margin is their biggest win and fewest points conceded since round 5 (32-0 v Dragons). The Cowboys ahead of Souths and the Bulldogs into seventh position. <\/p>\n
The victory means six of the 10 teams in the NRL era to have conceded 70+ points have won their following game .<\/p>\n
Consecutive losses for the Titans, by a combined score of 72-14. How now lost 10 of 11 Queensland derbies since the start of last season. <\/p>\n
Cowboys continue their good record against Titans. They have now won eight of their last 10 <\/p>\n
Seven of those eight wins by double figure margins.<\/p>\n
Set restarts were back on the menu tonight, with both teams receiving five. The Titans won the penalties 8-2. <\/p>\n
Phil Sami scored tries 84 and 85 of his career – the 16th double of his career. He now sits equal with Anthony Don on top of the Titans try scoring list. <\/p>\n
Jason Taumalolo ended his 69-game try drought with his first four pointer since the 2022 finals series. <\/p>\n
Helium Luki scored the third double of his career – Has 10 tries this season, his previous best was five last year. <\/p>\n
Fox Lab POTM – Despite his 10 minute break, Purdue controlled the match with a try, two assists, 7 runs for 112 metres and six tackle busts. <\/p>\n
LIVE BLOG<\/p>\n