Markets 
Joel Gould
Brisbane have made it three wins in a row with a controversial 26-12 derby triumph over Gold Coast – but it came at a cost.
Fullback Reece Walsh, playing his 100th NRL match, was taken to hospital after the match with a suspected cheekbone fracture.
Walsh displayed his creative genius in the first half with a try for the ages, before he was concussed tackling Titans forward Kurtis Morrin on the cusp of half-time.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire was concerned for Walsh after the match.
“Reece has gone to hospital to get a scan just below his eye, so we will have to wait and see on that,” Maguire said.
The category-one HIA ruled the No.1 out for the match, and he will definitely miss Friday night’s clash with North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.
Earlier, captain Adam Reynolds suffered a groin strain and was replaced by fellow veteran Ben Hunt, who also played with a knee injury.
Reynolds said he would have his injury scanned, while Hunt showed great bravery to play on.
“Early mail from the doc at half-time is he thinks I’ve stretched my medial a little bit. I’ll go and catch up with him now,” Hunt said in the dressing sheds.
Gold Coast were right up for the match and trailed 8-6 at half-time, but it was the class of Brisbane stars Ezra Mam and Kotoni Staggs that proved the difference.
Mam, who Maguire also said had “a few bangs”, was outstanding in the second half.
The win took the defending premiers inside the top eight for the first time this season.
A lapse of concentration after the break cost the hosts dearly. They failed to contest a Hunt bomb, Staggs collected the scraps and kicked again for Mam to collect and send bench prop Xavier Willison over.
Mam then put centre Gehamat Shibasaki over, and all of a sudden the visitors led 16-6.
The Titans were desperately unlucky to have a try denied when centre AJ Brimson crossed, only for a forward pass to be ruled against five-eighth Lachlan Ilias.
Jesse Arthars, who had moved from the wing to fullback after Walsh’s exit, scored up the other end in the next set to rub salt into the wounds.
“It’s a hard game, and when you earn your opportunity and ice it and it gets taken away, it is frustrating for the players,” said Gold Coast coach Josh Hannay.
“You have got to try and brush that, and we just didn’t … so that’s a learn for us and a work-on.”
Walsh lit up the stadium in the third minute when he bombed from 15 metres out and raced through to catch it and score himself, while being buffeted by defenders. It was a moment of sheer skill and breathtaking audacity.
The Titans’ rising second-rower, Arama Hau – hero from last week’s win over St George Illawarra – stormed 15 metres and was only denied by a desperate try-saver by Mam.
Mam was then crunched by Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika, and centre Jojo Fifita swooped on the loose ball to race 65 metres and score the first of his two tries.
Walsh raced 90 metres down the left touchline on the cusp of half-time and beat four defenders to put the ball over the line, but he had just touched the sideline in doing so.
A minute later, he was on his way off the field, but the Titans were unable to make the Broncos pay in the second half, despite several near misses.
AAP
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
From our partners
Read the full article here
