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Players from Gold Coast and Brisbane have followed through on a promise to cover the NRL' s official logo in protest at stalled negotiations over a fresh collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The NRLW clash at the Gabba between the Titans and Broncos kicked off on Thursday night with players from both sides wearing tape over the NRLW logo on the front of their jerseys
NRL and NRLW players will take part in the action as the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) turns up the heat on head office over talks that have dragged on for months.
The NRLW remain without a CBA and NRL players are operating under the previous agreement which lapsed last November and must sign off on a new deal by October.
The move comes after the RLPA introduced a boycott of player media duties on match days and follows a meeting with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in Melbourne earlier this week.
Further actions are believed to be planned if the NRL doesn't come to the table and resurrect the flagging talks after offering what the RLPA labelled 'take-it-or-leave-it' terms.
The RLPA have called for an independent mediator to resolve the stalemate after the players' union said the NRL had made "100 unreasonable and unacceptable changes" in their last offer.
Covering the NRL logo on team jerseys is the union's latest move, having been floated as a possible protest tactic during the pre-season tournament before players called off their action.
Male and female players are set to follow through on the protest action throughout the NRL's current Women in League round.
The round kicked off on Thursday night with an NRLW/NRL double header at the Gabba with the Broncos hosting the Titans in NRLW and their men facing the Sydney Roosters.
The NRL has declined to comment on the RLPA's latest tactic and there is a sense head office is reluctant to engage in a public slanging match with the union.
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou said his club backed the players' stance and said they couldn't allow it to be a distraction for Friday's meeting with Wests Tigers.
"We're pretty mature about it as a playing group," Demetriou said.
"The club will have conversations in and around it just to make sure when we get to the game they won't be thinking about it."
Titans win it with a golden point
Gold Coast hooker Lauren Brown landed a 77th-minute golden point field goal to secure a thrilling 17-16 win.
Brown, who came off the bench, was brought on by coach Karyn Murphy specifically for that purpose and she stepped up with a cool 25m shot after a sublime pass from dummy-half by Brittany Breayley-Nati.
"We brought Loz (Brown) on for that reason," Murphy said.
"We had done a few scenarios during the week. The girls got into position for Loz and Brittany has got a really nice ball.
"I'm still getting my breath after that one. It was super exciting and I am so proud of the girls."
Titans five-eighth Chantay Kira-Ratu had missed an earlier shot at the end of normal time and Brisbane No.6 Gayle Broughton also missed at the end of the first period of extra time.
Gold Coast fielded the youngest halves pairing in NRLW history with 18-year-old duo Kira-Ratu and Sienna Lofipo doing themselves proud to keep the side undefeated after two rounds.
"They are confident kids. I had every bit of confidence in those two to do the job and they have got a massive future," Murphy said.
The Broncos started on fire with centre Shenae Ciesiolka sending winger Lauren Dam over in the corner.
Veteran half Ali Brigginshaw lobbed a chip that a flying Ciesiolka caught on the full and then put fullback Hayley Maddick over and it was 10-nil.
Titans winger Emily Bass and fullback Evania Pelite then scored to make it level at the break.
Broughton broke the game open with a 40m run to the tryline in the 42nd minute.
Titans prop and reigning club player of the year Shannon Mato held up a pass like a playmaker to send fellow prop Jessika Elliston over under the posts against her former club to make it 16-all, which is how it stayed until Brown's golden point heroics.
Broncos coach Scott Prince was disappointed with his side's lack of discipline after two consecutive losses to start the season, but said they could turn it around.
"I am very confident. The effort is there and that's great," he said.
Check out the score and stats below.