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A Lauren Brown masterclass has guided Gold Coast to a 26-6 thrashing of a woeful Sydney Roosters in a brutal NRLW clash with an element of spite. On the same day Brisbane overcame a halftime deficit to beat a winless Wests Tigers 44-14, the Titans reasserted their authority as NRLW heavyweights. 
The Titans and Broncos are now among six teams - including Newcastle, Parramatta, North Queensland and Sydney Roosters - on six competition points. Cronulla are out in front on 10 points and on track for the minor premiership after beating St George Illawarra 28-4 in the final match of the round in Wollongong. Sharks five-eighth Emma Tonegato was on fire in a player-of-the-match display against her former club. Captain and centre Tiana Penitani crashed over for two tries, both off Tonegato passes.
Tonegato had one runaway try disallowed in the second half but minutes later she made another clean break and sent forward Rhiannon Byers over. Sharks winger Georgia Ravics also scored a double. Earlier, Titans halfback Brown scored two tries and had a hand in two others with her kicking game on-song, as last year's grand finalists ended up out of the top four only on for-and-against. Roosters centre Jayme Fressard and Titans second-rower Shaylee Bent were sin-binned in the second half after an all-in melee broke out. Titans five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono was also binned in the fourth minute for dangerous contact on Roosters centre Isabelle Kelly, who left the field for an HIA but later returned. Roosters prop Millie Elliott also sustained a bloodied nose and went off for an HIA after making a tackle in the first half. Elliott came back on, but her presence was not enough to inspire a Roosters side that made every error under the sun. Brown, who was unwell when she played in last week's loss to North Queensland, ran the show from start to finish at Robina on a 30-degree day on the Gold Coast more suited to the beach. Titans winger Emily Bass scored the first try after some Brown show-and-go in the lead-up. Powerhouse fullback Evania Pelite charged over on the stroke of halftime to give the hosts an 8-0 lead in a half they owned. Brown then took control after the break. She grubbered for herself to score, sent Pelite over for her second with a sublime pass, then did it all herself to split the Roosters' defence to score. Roosters fullback Sam Bremner scored a late consolation try, but the afternoon grew worse for the visitors when Fressard limped off with a lower leg injury. Titans prop Shannon Moto led a fierce pack, while Pelite at the back was always a handful.
Brisbane also moved to a 3-2 record and into the top four, after overcoming an early 12-0 deficit to beat the Tigers. With Sarah Togatuki rolling through the middle and producing offloads, the Broncos were on the back foot early. But Brisbane were able to turn the tide with eight unanswered tries, with Ali Brigginshaw and Chelsea Lenarduzzi both brilliant in the comeback. Julia Robinson bagged a crucial 90-metre intercept try with the Tigers on the attack and up 14-6 just after halftime, entirely changing the complexion of the match.
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