16/05/2008 10:57 PM
Scott Prince has rebounded from his State of Origin snubbing to lead the Gold Coast Titans to a thrilling 24-20 victory over the Bulldogs in front of 22,676 fans at Skilled Park on Friday night.
Any questions over what sort of impact Prince's omission from the Queensland side might have on the Titans co-captain were soon answered as he continued his stellar season.
Prince pocketed 12 points, including an impressive solo-effort try when the game was in the balance, and set up two others to help boost his side to its first victory over the Bulldogs.
Prince told Channel Nine after the game that he was a little bit gob-smacked after being overlooked by Queensland selectors, but was happy to put the disappointment behind him.
"It was pretty difficult to comprehend I guess ... but just the family and the amount of support on the Gold Coast has been tremendous," he said.
The match went right down to the wire where the Bulldogs looked to have evened the game up in the 79th minute but referee Jason Robinson ruled 'no try' to a bitterly disappointed Michael Sullivan.
In what was a see-sawing struggle, the Titans shot clear to a 16-0 lead at the 24-minute mark but a gutsy effort from the Bulldogs saw that reduced to 16-10 at half-time.
The game was there for the taking and the man who stepped up was none other than Prince who deceived the Bulldogs defence with a dummy pass before scrambling over the line in the 46th minute.
He slotted the conversion to see his side jump 12 points clear before their lead was brought back to six after a plucky Corey Hughes clambered over the line in his 200th game.
Prince then gave the Titans some breathing space when he nailed a penalty goal in the 61st minute to give his side a 24-16 lead.
The Bulldogs exerted plenty of pressure before breaking through the Titans' gritty defence in the 74th minute when a huge run from prop Jarrad Hickey resulted in Reni Maitua diving in the corner for the try.
Daniel Holdsworth missed the conversion to set the game up for an exciting finish with the Titans in front by just four points.
Sullivan looked to have delivered the goods for the Bulldogs, but it wasn't to be, as the Titans held on to continue their unbeaten record at home and claim top position on the ladder.
Titans 24
Tries: Samau, Meyers, O’Dwyer, Prince
Conversions: Prince 3
Penalty: Prince
Bulldogs 20
Tries: Utai, Phelps, Hughes, Maitua
Conversions: Holdsworth 2
Sportal's NRL Player of the Year:
3 - Scott Prince (Gold Coast)
2 - Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs)
1 - Luke Bailey (Gold Coast)