Gold Coast Titans' Jarryd Hayne sinks Wests Tigers with last-minute field goal

Jarryd Hayne returned home to shatter the hearts of the club based in his home region, landing a field goal eight seconds before the final siren to seal a dramatic one-point win for Gold Coast Titans. 

More than 17,000 crammed into Campbelltown Sports Ground and up to a thousand more watched from beyond the venue's boundaries as the man from Minto made his return, only to leave the locals dejected as he shattered their hearts. With the last play of the match, Hayne showed why Gold Coast Titans made such a hefty investment in bringing him back to rugby league by showing his composure and class to nail a 30-metre field goal on the stroke of full-time. 

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Fairytale end for Hayne plane

Jarryd Hayne kicked the winning field goal as the Gold Coast Titans edged out the Wests Tigers 19-18 in Campbelltown.

In doing so, the former NFL player sent his new club back into the top eight at the expense of Wests Tigers, who spurned a number of late chances to clinch a win. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the home fans who started their day in celebration when the Tigers scored from the first set of the match. 

A barnstorming run by Aaron Woods created an opening down the middle of the park with Kevin Naiqama ending the move to make it 6-0 in the first minute. By contrast, the main drawcard was slow out of the gates, kicking out on the full, knocking on a metre from his own try line and giving away a careless penalty. 

However, Hayne redeemed himself with a try-saving intercept that set the stage for Gold Coast to hit back, with Anthony Don scoring from the resulting set. He tilted the momentum in favour of the visitors, who soon found themselves level when halfback Ash Taylor picked out centre Josh Hoffman with a delicate kick to make it 8-8.

All eyes remained on the Titans' No.6 despite playing a supporting role during most of their creative play while adjusting back to rugby league. Hayne's high and lofty ball into the corner led to Gold Coast taking the lead into the break when Anthony Don's brilliant leap over his mark resulted in their third try and a 12-10 lead at half-time. 

Just as the Tigers appeared to have found some consistency after the restart, they were dealt a savage blow to their finals hopes. Gold Coast winger Nene McDonald intercepted an offload just eight metres from his own line to race nearly the length of the field to score the Titans' fourth try.

The most ominous sign for the hosts was the loss of James Tedesco on the hour mark. The star fullback could miss the rest of the season after suffering a jaw injury during a Zeb Taia tackle. 

Just as hope looked to be lost, David Nofoaluma punished slack Titans defending from a kick to draw level with a try in the corner, reducing the deficit to four points. The flying Wests Tigers winger sent the 16,783 fans into delirium with a spectacular equaliser 10 minutes from full-time. 

Nofoaluma squeezed himself between the corner post and his marker to make it 18-all and a sideline conversion from Moses looked to have put Wests in front, only to strike the upright and bounce narrowly wide. 

That euphoria became outrage from the resulting set when Ryan James' sickening high tackle left Jack Littlejohn seeing stars, though the silver lining was a chance for a late penalty goal. Moses had the crowd on his back but the sun in the eyes, and the latter proved too great a hurdle as he missed the attempt and a field goal minutes later. 

After Taylor spurned two chances for Gold Coast, the duties were handed to Hayne in one last roll of the dice. Amid the jeers of his hometown, Hayne delivered with precision to make it 19-18.