With an eight-week losing streak now behind them, a fierce Titans side claimed their first victory of the season, shocking the Warriors 27-24 at Go Media Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Anzac Day match kicked off across the ditch, as the home side sent an early warning to the visitors.
However, some fierce attacking efforts orchestrated by Titans star five-eighth Tanah Boyd quickly rattled the Warriors’ line and saw the side power in front through the game.
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Titans fullback AJ Brimson and Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake scored a double for their teams, as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad celebrated his 100th game.
The Warriors went over the line twice in the first eight minutes of the half to extend their lead to 12.
Some well-executed ball movement through the line by the Gold Coast landed in the hands of AJ Brimson, who ran over 30 metres untouched to score.
Tanah Boyd’s kicking game relieved some pressure for the Titans, setting up for the side to claim their first lead of the game.
Two penalties in favour of the Titans saw the visitors power back over the line, with Boyd kicking a field goal to round out the scoring for the first half.
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With 28 missed tackles in the first half, the Warriors’ discipline remained an issue in the second, as Alofiana Khan-Pereira raced over off the scrum.
Warriors hooker Wayde Egan sent a small chill throughout the team, clutching at his left knee after colliding with Titans second-rower David Fifita. However, the star hooker was quick to get back up and played the rest of the match.
A small sense of hope in the form of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck saw the Warriors leap over the line but was called back by the Bunker, who ruled a no-try.
An offload from Fifita sends Brimson through the score his second of the game.
Brimson’s double was shortly replicated by Warriors powerhouse prop Addin Fonua-Blake, who smashed over the line to score his second of the day.
The Warriors jumped on a fumbled ball from a kick in goal but were again denied with the bunker ruling a double knock-on.
Fifita will face the judiciary after being placed on report for a late collision with Warriors Te Maire Martin’s leg while the five-eighth put up a kick.
The Warriors fell short in their last sets of the match, with Watene-Zelezniak held up over the line as the Titans claimed their first win of the season.
