Titans run over Manly to ease pressure

A Dale Copley hat-trick has inspired the Gold Coast to a come-from-behind 36-18 NRL win over Manly to ease pressure on under-fire coach Garth Brennan.

Manly looked comfortable and in control after leading 12-0 early at Lottoland on Friday night, however the Titans piled on 26 unanswered points from the 35th to 62nd minutes to break a six-game losing streak.

A day earlier, the club announced Mal Meninga would undertake a full review of their football department and they responded with just their third victory of the season.

After Copley got his first to kick-start the fightback, fullback AJ Brimson produced a piece of brilliance when he beat Brendan Elliott to a Tyrone Roberts kick by a fingernail to get things back on level pegging.

Halves Tyrone Roberts – who bagged a double and set up another two – and Ash Taylor were instrumental in the fightback.

Roberts gave his side the lead when he combined with Taylor before former Sea Eagle Brian Kelly popped a miracle flick pass to give Copley his second.

Taylor then came up with the play of the night when fired a 25-metre Harbour Bridge pass – which cut out four teammates – to give Copley his third as the Titans went up 26-12.

Brad Parker brought his side back into the contest when he reduced the margin to eight with 15 minutes remaining but Cartwright and Roberts tries sealed the win.

Manly centre Dylan Walker, in his second game back after being stood down for the opening nine rounds, was sensational in the first half, setting up Reuben Garrick when he scooped up a loose ball on the 10-metre line.

He found himself with open pasture in front of him and while he looked capable of going all the way, the fed it onto his winger as the Sea Eagles went 90m to make it 12-0.

He had a chance to set up another two tries but was ruled offside on one occasion and threw it forward to Kane Elgey on another.

The Sea Eagles were shaping as the fairytale story of the season after winning six of their previous eight to find themselves entrenched in the top eight, but they were uncharacteristically poor in defence and continually handed opportunities to their opposition.

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