Red-Hot Roosters Cruise to Classy Queensland Win

The Titans lost this Captain's Challenge in the opening minute of the match, unsuccessfully appealing a knock-on call against Jessika Elliston - who believed Olivia Kernick had stripped the ball from her possession. 

Easts made the hosts pay for the error, sending the ball left off the ensuing scrum to find Corban Baxter, who carved straight through the line and raced 70 metres before reaching out to plant the ball on the stripe. Jocelyn Kelleher added the extras to give the Tricolours a six-point lead. 

The Gold Coast returned serve two minutes later with a grubber kick from Sienna Lofipo sitting up into the in-goal for Niall Williams-Guthrie to crash down through the scrambling defence, cutting the deficit to two.

Following an incredible try-saving tackle by Keilee Joseph on Shannon Mato, the hosts looked to apply more pressure to the Roosters defence. 

A chip kick into the corner for Titans winger Emily Bass was fumbled onto Brydie Parker's back before Williams-Guthrie picked up the loose ball and grounded it, but after a lengthy analysis of the play, the video referee backed the on-field decision of no try. 

Injected into the contest for only three minutes, Otesa Pule produced a scorching run up the middle to lay the platform for another Roosters' try.

Tarryn Aiken flicked a Harbour Bridge pass to Jayme Fressard later in the set, with the speedy winger making the most of an overlap on the edge to fly through into the corner for her fourth try in two weeks. 

Heroic goal-line defence from the Roosters turned the Titans away once more after back-to-back sets allowed the hosts to set up camp within metres of the try-line. 

Four minutes before the break, a spectacular solo effort by Aiken resulted in more points for the Tricolours, with the mercurial five-eighth stepping inside to break the line before chipping the ball into the in-goal and racing to crash down on top of it. Kelleher kicked the conversion to make the score 16-4. 

The Roosters were relentless in attack to start the second half, fiercely fighting to maintain territory. 

Following a massive run from Amelia Pasikala, Aiken delivered a crisp short-ball to Pule who busted through the defence and wrestled the ball to the ground in-goal, extending the margin to 16. 

An inspiring set of defence by the Tricolours kept the Titans in their defensive 30 to gain the ball back in perfect field-position for another try. 

Isabelle Kelly flicked an offload back on the inside in the 52nd minute to find a charging Brydie Parker who snatched the ball out of the air and powered straight towards the line. Kelleher slotted the conversion to carry the Roosters to a 22-point lead. 

Six minutes later, Jessica Sergis benefited off a falcon from the Gold Coast to collect Kelleher's kick as it floated through the air, racing into the in-goal to ground the ball. 

The Titans responded three minutes later after a kick from Lauren Brown caused trouble for the Roosters back-line, with Destiny Mino-Sinapati picking up the scraps to cross in the corner. 

Remarkable defence from Shawden Burton typified the Roosters gutsy performance, with the utility, who had moved from hooker to the wing to replace Fressard (HIA) holding up Shaylee Bent in the dying minutes to keep the hosts to eight points. 

Sydney Roosters 30 (Corban Baxter, Jayme Fressard, Tarryn Aiken, Otesa Pule, Brydie Parker, Jessica Sergis tries, Jocelyn Kelleher 3 goals) def Gold Coast Titans 8.