The Titans have shocked Craig Bellamy’s Storm with a 38-34 win in the blistering Gold Coast heat at Cbus Super Stadium.
Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira opened the scoring from an AJ Brimson break before Storm debutant Jonah Pezet crossed only 12 minutes into his NRL debut.
The 20-year-old stood Aaron Schoupp up in defence, running through the line to record his side’s first four-pointer of the night.
Khan-Pereira once again injected himself into the game, dancing past William Warbrick in the left corner.
Storm fullback Nick Meaney scored the fourth try of the clash, rolling over the tryline before Tariq Sims was able to charge over from a Pezet short ball.
Meaney was the next to score, bagging a double before the Titans struck back on the stroke of halftime with Brian Kelly grounding a smart grubber.
Then after coming back from the break, Melbourne looked a different team and handed the Gold Coast two shock tries.
The first came for Joe Vuna who scooped up a Eliesa Katoa offload before Jahrome Hughes dropped the ball, allowing Schoupp to run 80 metres.
Harry Grant got his team back in the game, offloading just in front of the tryline for Hughes to barge over.
But it took only minutes for the Titans to strike again with Schoupp scoring from a Kieran Foran kick.
AJ Brimson was able to soar high and collect the ball, offloading to Sami who found his outside man.
Xavier Coates scored a late try for the Storm, but it wasn’t enough to get them over the line.
PEZET’S DREAM DEBUT
Young gun Jonah Pezet’s NRL debut was one to remember for the rising star, despite going down to the Titans.
The 20-year-old halfback was drafted into the starting side by coach Craig Bellamy in a late switch for Tyran Wishart, and the move paid off.
Pezet was everywhere in the first half, recording a try and two try assists in his first 40 minutes of first grade, burning Aaron Schoupp to cross for a four-pointer.
“What a moment for the 20-year-old, wasn’t much happening but he got an offload... Pezet in game one is away,” Fox League’s Warren Smith said.
“He put Aaron Schoupp in the chair didn’t he, and from that point he couldn’t match it… pretty pumped about it as well, sensational scenes.”
Speaking at halftime, halves partner Jahrome Hughes said the young gun was “really confident in himself” and had the ability to back himself, even on debut.
“Pezet has had a wonderful start to his NRL career,” Fox League’s Corey Parker added.
Pezet’s impact was limited in the second period, with consistent errors hampering the Melbourne side as Bellamy tore his hair out in the coach’s box.
TITANS’ ‘TRY-SCORING MACHINE’
Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira showcased his blistering speed and footwork with a first half double, stunning Fox League’s commentators.
The winger’s first four-pointer was simple, supporting AJ Brimson on the inside and finding clear space before his second was far from routine.
Khan-Pereira received the ball on the left wing, looking up to see winger William Warbrick in his path to the white line.
The 21-year-old stepped on the inside before he swayed back towards the sideline, standing up the Melbourne winger to score untouched.
“Oh he is lightning, the feet, the dancing of Alofiana Khan-Pereira, he’s a try scoring machine, he’s now got three in the NRL… brilliant,” Fox League’s Warren Smith said.
“What a try-scoring machine he is… he is lightning quick, what an excitement machine out on this left edge,” Fox League’s Corey Parker said.
Khan-Pereira also pulled off a huge defensive play late in the game, dragging Xavier Coates out as the Storm attempted to steal the lead.
The gun winger finished the game with two tackle breaks, a line break and two tries in his best NRL performance to date.
STORM ‘COMPLETELY LOST’
Craig Bellamy was clearly fuming in the coach’s box as the Storm delivered a “disjointed” second half, handing an unlikely win to the Titans.
Coming into the second half with a 24-18 lead, Melbourne were in the box seat to kick away from their opponents but instead two costly errors gave the game away.
As the score sat 30-24 only seven minutes into the second half, the Storm were left chasing their tail and Fox League’s Corey Parker was scathing of their display.
“They look completely lost, disjointed, unorganised the Melbourne Storm… they look like they are lost, Hughes needs to stand up, Meaney needs to have a voice,” Parker said.
“Every time they are in good ball they try and find the easy way to the try line instead of building.”
“It looks like Harry Grant is trying too hard at the moment, a little bit lost out of dummy-half,” Fox League’s Steve Roach said.
“They need to snap out of it, they haven’t come out of the sheds.”
Melbourne made 15 errors and completed at only 67 per cent against a Titans outfit who also only completed a 74 per cent.
Fox League’s Warren Smith said Melbourne were “in a world of trouble” and Bellamy is sure to have some stern words for his team this week.
