A flurry of first-half tries and a dominant performance by their forwards have powered Gold Coast to a 44-8 defeat of winless North Queensland in Townsville.
Led by the emerging big three of David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and AJ Brimson, the Titans raced to a 26-0 halftime lead and staved off a determined Cowboys side eager to find a way back into Sunday night’s contest.
Second-half tries to Fifita, Brimson and Corey Thompson backed up a four-try haul in the first stanza as the Titans dominated their opposition across the board.
Fifita and Fa’asuamaleaui led the way through the middle with 330 metres combined, while Brimson was electric in attack, scoring a try in each half as well as nabbing try assist.
The pick of the crop was Brimson’s 53rd minute try, as the Titans went the length of the field to score.
A busting run by Patrick Herbert on their try-line won them 10 metres, before Jamal Fogarty put Jaimin Jolliffe through a gaping hole on halfway for Jolliffe to pass inside to a supporting Brimson.
The full-field try shone a light on a dismal night for the Cowboys, who missed 38 tackles while none of their forwards cracked 100 running metres.
Titans halfback Fogary finished the night a perfect seven from seven off the boot and Thompson’s 77th-minute try completed a clinic for the Titans.
Earlier, Brimson opened the Titans account with a brilliant grubber behind the Cowboys defensive line, before gathering and front-flipping to score.
Shortly after, Phillip Sami was the beneficiary of a break by Fa’asuamaleaui to score, before assisting on the next, stepping past a helpless Cowboys’ right edge to put Thompson over for his first try.
Moekai Fotuaika bagged their fourth shortly before halftime, crashing over from short range.
Murray Taulagi scored in his season debut for the Cowboys and was joined by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the scoresheet.
The pair were the bright sparks for a shell-shocked Cowboys team.
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