NRL
Dragons 16
Titans 10
Wayne Bennett wants to create a few records at his new club but he wasn't keen on losing one his new side had already established.
The Dragons had never lost to the Titans in four games since the Gold Coast joined the competition three seasons ago
and, although they conceded the first points of the match and should have been trailing at halftime, there was a sense they would always prevail.
It was the Dragons' first win under their new coach.
They have never won a premiership as the joint venture and they're not considered major threats this year. But Bennett, who won six titles in 21 years with the Broncos, is bound to turn them into more consistent performers.
They were unlucky not to upset the Storm in Melbourne last weekend, losing in golden-point extra-time, and controlled the match last night.
There are more than a few shades of the Broncos in the Dragons - just an inferior model. They try to play the game at the right end of the park, rumbling it out of their own territory before contemplating giving the ball some air.
They also tackle, tackle, tackle.
That's why former Melbourne and Kiwis back-rower Jeremy Smith is such a good acquisition for them. There are few tougher and more relentless players in the NRL than Smith and he was rewarded with the home side's opening try, when he latched on to a perfectly-weighted Dean Young cut-out pass in the 21st minute.
It gave the home side a lead they never relinquished.
Scott Prince had given the Titans the perfect start with an opportunist's try in the fourth minute, when he kicked a long, floating Ben Hornby pass ahead and regathered.
They needed to add to their tally in the opening spell because you always knew the Dragons would grind their way into the match.
Prince controlled play beautifully at times and forced a number of goal line dropouts and Mark Minichello was denied a try on a tight forward pass.
But they were also of guilty of inexplicable handling errors in threatening positions.
Prince was the culprit on one occasion, dropping the ball 10m out when under no pressure and on the first tackle, along with Mat Rogers, who fumbled when handed a golden chance to score.
They were made to pay for their profligacy.
The Dragons stepped up their game in the second spell after some, presumably, wise words from the old super-coach.
They extended their lead in the 45th minute when Neville Costigan, a former Bronco sacked under Bennett's watch for drink driving, scored. Jamie Soward put in a grubber kick which eluded Hornby but not Costigan.
Jason Nightingale got his name on the scoresheet in the 67th minute when he collected a Soward bomb at the second attempt while William Zillman scored a consolation for the Titans on fulltime.
The Dragons made too many errors for it to be an entirely convincing performance - 14 in total - but the ship seems to be sailing in the right direction. With Bennett at the helm, you wouldn't expect anything else.
Dragons 16 (J. Smith, N. Costigan, J. Nightingale tries, J. Soward 2 gls) Titans 10 (S. Prince, W. Zillman tries, Prince gl). HT: 6-4.
Michael Weyman powers through the Titans defence in St George's first success under Wayne Bennett at Win Stadium last night. Photo / Getty Images
NRL
Dragons 16
Titans 10
Wayne Bennett wants to create a few records at his new club but he wasn't keen on losing one his new side had already established.
The Dragons had never lost to the Titans in four games since the Gold Coast joined the competition three seasons ago
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.