NRL flashback: Three memorable NZ Warriors v Gold Coast Titans matches

If the NRL hadn't  suspended its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 crisis, the NZ Warriors would be preparing for their round 10 encounter against the Gold Coast Titans in Australia. 

While the rivalry isn't so strong, there is a strong connection between the two sides. 

After the Warriors won both games in Gold Coast's debut 2007 season, fortunes changed as the Titans went on a three-year six game win streak, including in the first round of the 2010 playoffs. 

Since then, the Warriors have won 16 of their 18 match-ups. 

Due to a large Kiwi population on the Gold Coast, you can often hear Warriors fans more vocal than Titans counterparts at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Warriors currently have four former Titans in their team - Agnatius Paasi, Karl Lawon, Lachlan Burr and Leivaha Pulu. 

As this match was due to take place in Queensland city, Newshub takes a look at three memorable games between the two sides that took place in Australia. 

September 10, 2010 - Titans 28 Warriors 16 at Robina Stadium

An injury-ravaged Titans side defied the odds to secure their first and only win as a franchise in a tense playoffs encounter in Australia. 

Experienced players Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Brad Meyers, Ash Harrison, Steve Michaels and Mat Rogers all had to pass late fitness tests to play, while Preston Campbell was ruled out with a hamstring injury. 

But Campbell's replacement at fullback, William Zillman, stole the show, scoring a brace of tries, as his eclectic pace tore the Warriors to shreds.

After a promising start by the Warriors, Zillman sparked the Titans fightback and they led 22-6 at halftime. 

Zillman scored his two tries, while former Warrior Clinton Toopi and Rogers also crossed the line. 

Clinton Toopi celebrates his try against the Warriors in 2010.
Clinton Toopi celebrates his try against the Warriors in 2010. Photo credit: Getty

Two tries in 11 minutes had the Warriors back in the match, but two minutes after Zillman pounced on a loose ball with NZ hot on the attack, the hosts scored again to put the result beyond doubt. 

"When we play the Warriors, it's always tough," said captain Scott Prince after the match. "They brought their 'A' game. but our grit in defence won it for us."  

Under the old McIntyre playoff system, the Warriors should've survived another week, but due to upset wins for the Roosters and Raiders, their season ended. 

Meanwhile, the Titans got the week off and lost to the Sydney Roosters in the Grand Final qualifier, ending their golden era, as they slumped to the wooden spoon the following year.

Titans 28 (William Zillman 2, Kevin Gordon, Mat Rogers & Clinton Toopi tries; Scott Prince 4 goals) Warriors 16 (Aaron Heremaia, Manu Vatuvei & Joel Moon tries; James Maloney 2 conversions)

Gold Coast: 5-William Zillman, 2-Kevin Gordon, 3-Steve Michaels, 4-Clinton Toopi, 19-Jordan Atkins, 6-Mat Rogers, 7-Scott Prince (c), 8-Luke Bailey, 9-Nathan Friend, 10-Anthony Laffranchi, 11-Greg Bird, 12-Mark Minichiello, 13-Ashley Harrison

Interchange: 14-Michael Henderson, 15-Brad Meyers, 16-Matthew White, 17-Bodene Thompson

Warriors: 1-Lance Hohaia, 2-Kevin Locke, 3-Brent Tate, 18-Joel Moon, 5-Manu Vatuvei, 6-James Maloney, 7-Brett Seymour, 8-Sam Rapira, 9-Aaron Heremaia, 10-Russell Packer, 11-Simon Mannering (c), 12-Lewis Brown, 13- Michael Luck 

Interchange: 15-Ben Matulino, 16-Ukuma Ta'ai, 17-Jacob Lillyman, 20-Sione Lousi

May 8, 2011 - Titans 14 Warriors 34 at Robina Stadium

The Warriors avenged their loss against the Titans in the previous year's playoffs to secure their first win over Gold Cost since 2007.

In arguably their most dazzling performance of the season, the Warriors had lots of key players backing up from the Anzac Test just 48 hours earlier, while Manu Vatuvei returned from a knee injury sustained in the season opener. 

Campbell, who played a key role in the Titans' six-game win streak over the Warriors, had one of his worst games, as mistakes under the high ball led to Warriors tries. 

James Maloney in action against the Titans in 2011.
James Maloney in action against the Titans in 2011. Photo credit: Photosport

After the Warriors opened the scoring, the Titans hit the front with two tries to David Mead. 

Then came the razzle-dazzle, as Vatuvei and Mannering scored, before Elijah Taylor crossed for a bizarre try, when the Titans released him, thinking he was tackled, and the Kiwis lock strolled over to give the Warriors a 22-8 halftime lead. 

Mead scored his third try to close the gap, but another mistake by Campbell handed James Maloney his first try, with the five-eight scoring his second from a 20m restart for an 18-point hault.

Titans 14 (David Mead 3 tries; Scott Prince goal) Warriors 34 (James Maloney 2, Lewis Brown, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei & Elijah Taylor tries; James Maloney 5 goals) 

Gold Coast: 1-Preston Campbell, 2-Steve Michaels, 3-Esikeli Tonga, 4-Bodene Thompson, 5-David Mead, 6-William Zillman, 7-Scott Prince (c), 14-Michael Henderson, 9-Riley Brown, 10-Matthew White, 11-Greg Bird, 16-Ben Ridge, 13-Ashley Harrison

Interchange: 12-Mark Minichiello, 15-Ryan Jamess, 17-Luke O'Dwyer, 18-Kayne Lawton

Warriors: 2-Kevin Locke, 5-Krisnan Inu, 3-Lewis Brown, 4-Simon Mannering (c), 25-Manu Vatuvei, 6-James Maloney, 7-Brett Seymour, 15-Russell Packer, 14-Alehana Mara, 10-Jacob Lillyman, 11-Feleti Mateo, 12-Elijah Taylor, 13- Michael Luck 

Interchange: 1-Lance Hohaia, 16-Ben Matulino, 17-Ukuma Ta'ai, 20-Jeremy Latimore 

August 7, 2016 - Titans 14 Warriors 24 at Robina Stadium

The Warrior spoiled Jarryd Hayne's return to rugby league, with a hard-fought win that kept them in the playoff hunt. 

In front of 25,109 fans - the Titans' best attendance since 2010, when  27,026 spectators watched them beat the Warriors in the playoffs - Hayne played 52 minutes in his first match since leaving to unsuccessfully pursue an NFL career. 

With the Warriors leading 8-6, Hayne made his way onto the field and made an immediate impact, stopping Bodene Thompson from scoring a certain try. 

Jarryd Hayne in action in his Titans debut in 2016.
Jarryd Hayne in action in his Titans debut in 2016. Photo credit: Photosport

While the headlines were about Hayne's debut, it was a big game for former Warriors Konrad Hurrell, who departed the Auckland-based NRL club mid-season to join the Titans. 

Hurrell burst into celebration, after scoring the game-levelling try late in the first half. 

But the Warriors pulled away in the second half, with Shaun Johnson claiming try assists, before Solomone Kata intercepted a Hayne pass to put the result beyond doubt. 

Funnily enough, the Warriors would lose their last four games and miss out on the finals, while the Titans home in eighth.

Titans 14 (Ryan James, Konrad Hurrell & Anthony Don tries; Ash Taylor conversion) Warriors 24 (Solomone Kata 2, David Fusitu'a, Bodene Thompson & Simon Mannering tries; Tuimoala Lolohea 2 conversions)

Gold Coast: 1-David Mead, 2-Anthony Don, 3-Josh Hoffman, 4-Konrad Hurrell, 5-Nene Macdonald, 17-Cameron Cullen, 7-Ash Taylor, 8-Luke Douglas, 9-Nathan Peats, 10-Ryan James, 11-Zeb Taia, 12-Chris McQueen, 13-Greg Bird (c)

Interchange: 15-Leivaha Pulu, 16-Agnatius Paasi, 19-David Shillington, 21-Jarryd Hayne 

Warriors: 1-Tuimoala Lolohea, 2-Ken Maumalo, 3-David Fusitu'a, 4-Solomone Kata, 5-Manu Vatuvei, 6-Thomas Leuluai, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Jacob Lillyman, 21-Jazz Tevaga, 10-Albert Vete, 11-Bodene Thompson, 12-Ryan Hoffman (c), 13-Simon Mannering

Interchange: 14-Nathaniel Roache, 15-Sam Lisone, 16-Ben Matulino, 18-Blake Ayshford

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NRL flashback: Three memorable NZ Warriors v Gold Coast Titans matches