Melbourne have lost star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to an ankle injury in a nailbiting 22-20 win over the gallant Gold Coast.
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The rugby league world held its breath at Robina on Saturday when the dazzling Storm No.1 clutched at his right ankle while making a tackle late in the first half.
It was the same ankle he broke in week one of the finals against Brisbane last year, after he missed 13 months with a shattered kneecap.
The 25-year-old was in a moon boot and on crutches at halftime after setting up two tries and scoring one of his own.
Titans fullback AJ Brimson was incredible and got the hosts back in the match after they trailed by 14 points and lost No.6, and goalkicker, Tanah Boyd to a left arm injury early.
Gold Coast skipper Kieran Foran showcased all his nous, skill and desire to beat four Melbourne forwards to score and give the hosts a 6-0 lead.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster, in his 200th NRL game, started and finished a classic try that showcased the skill of Papenhuyzen and much-improved second-rower Shawn Blore.
Munster and Papenhuyzen sent winger Will Warbrick over from a scrum before the Storm fullback finished a Munster/Blore liaison for a classic try of his own.
Dazzling 21-year-old winger Sua Faalogo, in his second NRL game, scored a try from a scrum where the Titans just watched him weave his way over to score with hardly a hand being laid on him to give the visitors a 20-6 lead.
But the Titans weren't done.
The match turned when Gold Coast winger Phil Sami scored in the corner on 35 minutes when he appeared to bounce the ball over the line. Sami laughed when the bunker awarded it.
After the break, Brimson crashed over next to the sticks and a penalty goal levelled it up at 20-20.
Storm goalkicker Nick Meaney hit the post with one penalty attempt but landed his second from the same spot.
Sami was denied with three minutes to go when he put his foot on the touchline while attempting to score.
The Titans had a tough call go against them at the death when winger Jojo Fifita was ruled to have made a strip in a tackle as the visitors hung on.
Australian Associated Press
