NRL: Kieran Foran sparks comeback win for Bulldogs over Titans

  • 18/05/2019
Kieran Foran.
Kieran Foran. Photo credit: Image: Getty

Playmaker Kieran Foran has helped Canterbury to reel in a blistering Gold Coast start and clinch a 22-16 comeback NRL win at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Bulldogs looked set to stumble to a 2-8 record - their worst season start since 1964 - when they trailed 16-0 on Saturday afternoon after just 18 minutes.

However, the Titans were condemned to their worst season start (2-8) when five- eighth Foran sparked a remarkable fightback.

Foran set up three tries - including a double to dreadlocked flyer Okunbor - as the Titans slumped to their fourth-straight loss and an unwanted record.

It marks the first time Gold Coast have just two wins or less in the first 10 games of a season in their history.

It is also the fourth-successive week the Titans have let a match slip from their grasp after being in a winning position.

The Titans at least went down swinging and threatened to lock up the scores in the 78th minute in a see-sawing finish.

Titans prop Jarrod Wallace charged down a Foran kick and offloaded to Jesse Arthars for what looked like a try - only for the referee to call it back and rule a Wallace knock-on, prompting boos.

In the end, Dogs halfback Jack Cogger iced the match with a solo 70th-minute try but Foran had his fingerprints all over the comeback.

The Bulldogs were left shellshocked after winger Dale Copley bagged two tries in the first 11 minutes.

The Titans made the Bulldogs pay after prop Dylan Napa lost the ball in a Brian Kelly hit with Copley crashing over in the fourth minute, marking the 50th try of his career.

Kelly was soon at it again, jolting the ball loose from Will Hopoate and Copley had his second try in the 11th minute.

Then Foran struck.

The Bulldogs' five-eighth kicked a clever grubber for centre Marcelo Montoya to score in the 26th minute.

A Foran cut-out pass found Okunbor, who sliced up the right edge to cross in the 32nd and, suddenly, the deficit was only 16-12.

When Foran set up Okunbor's second with a floating pass in the 61st minute, the

Dogs hit the lead for the first time.

After Cogger's brilliance, the Dogs held on to ensure the Titans were kept scoreless in the second half in three of their past four games.