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Rugby League > Gidley inspires Knights to another win
By Laine Clark
June 27, 2010

The signs were ominous from the start, and things certainly didn't improve for the Gold Coast Titans as they went down 24-16 to Newcastle at Skilled Park.

Knights skipper Kurt Gidley was all smiles as he helped inspire Newcastle to a second NRL victory in six days.

Just as he was a factor in Monday night's 6-4 win over the Eels, Gidley had a perfect four from four record with the boot - including two sideline conversions - on Sunday before pulling off two last gasp tackles in a typical captain's knock.

Gidley is tipped to relinquish the NSW captaincy to Trent Barrett when the Blues' Origin III side is named on Monday night, but he did everything possible to change selectors minds.

It snapped the Titans' two-match winning run - and a chance to slot into outright third on the NRL ladder.

Then again, the initial portents weren't good.

Within an hour before kick-off, TV broadcasters the Nine Network looked decidedly nervous when a blackout took out the entire Robina suburb for 15 minutes, leaving the 13,396-strong Skilled Park crowd eerily quiet.

Power might have been dicey but Skilled Park security was certainly working - they initially refused to let injured Titans skipper Scott Prince (hamstring) into the ground for a live TV cross because he didn't have a parking pass, keeping him outside for 20 minutes.

And pre-match stats didn't make for good reading for the Titans either - they have won just six of 16 games without Prince.

That record only got worse after the Knights' gutsy four tries to three win.

After trailing 18-12 at halftime, the Titans at least gave themselves a sniff when fullback William Zillman crashed down the right sideline in the 52nd minute to cut the deficit.

But big Wes Naiqama ran off impressive halfback Jarrod Mullen to steamroll Preston Campbell to score in the 64th and blow the score out to 24-16.

A Jekyll and Hyde performance by Greg Bird ensured the visitors led 18-12 at halftime.

Considered a NSW backrow contender for Origin III, Bird had an inauspicious start when he threw an intercept pass to Knights fill-in hooker Matt Hilder to initiate Newcastle's first try in the seventh minute to backrower Zeb Taia.

Bird did his best to atone when his clever inside ball sent lock Ash Harrison over in the 18th minute to lock up the scores 6-6.

Bird was at it again in the 27th minute when his grubber was pounced on by backrower Brad Meyers.

Another Titans error - this time Campbell spilling a bomb - led to winger James McManus' 32nd minute try, albeit from a suspicious Adam MacDougall pass.

Bird completed his rollercoaster half when his dropped ball - again just metres from Newcastle's line - led to another sweeping Knights movement capped by centre Junior Sa'u's 37th minute try.

In another worry for Titans coach John Cartwright, winger David Mead (knee) and centre Sam Tagataese (shoulder) were injured in the first half and didn't return.
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