David Fifita turned jeers into cheers in his first match for the Titans since signing with the Roosters in the best way possible.
The hulking forward scored a try, set up another and was a constant threat to North Queensland at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday as the home side tasted victory for just the second time this season.
They galloped out to a 20-0 lead by half-time and withstood an improved showing from the Cowboys in the second half to seal a 20-18 triumph.
Fifita was booed by the Titans fans when he took his first hit-up in the wake of his decision to trigger a release clause in his contract during the week to sign with the Roosters.
The fact that it took until the fourth minute on their third set in possession for him to touch the ball was yet another sign that the Maroons forward does not get involved enough at club level to justify his enormous pay packet.
But after he set up a try for second cousin Jojo Fifita and burrowed over from dummy-half for one of his own, the local fans were cheering him all the way.
“His form the last four weeks was like that and today was no different,” coach Des Hasler said.
This win was one of the most courageous in Gold Coast history – captain Kieran Foran limped off with a hamstring injury, which he later said was minor and might keep him out for week, five-eighth AJ Brimson followed him off in the second half with a groin complaint after winger Phil Sami’s match ended due to a hamstring strain in the 26th minute.
To top it off, centre Harley Smith-Shields went up the tunnel with a pectoral injury late on that coach Des Hasler said was season-ending.
“That was a pretty gutsy win. It had that written all over it,” Hasler said. “The way they played in the first half set it up and then they hung on and kept turning up.
“We’ve now got five halves sitting on the sidelines. We’ve got Brad Davis and Michael Monaghan (on the coaching staff) so we might drag them out of retirement.”
Tanah Boyd (wrist) and Jayden Campbell (knee) are other playmakers currently injured.
David Fifita celebrates his first-half try. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Cowboys were dreadful from the outset and after winger Semi Valemei somehow decided to kick a bomb from Foran instead of catching it, Brimson touched down four minutes from half-time to give the Gold Coast a 20-0 buffer at the break.
“We got what we deserved,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said. “We showed great fight in the second half and had an opportunity to pinch it but we left four tries begging.”
The Titans were nearly flawless in the opening 40 minutes, completing 23 of 24 sets to show they are starting to improve rapidly after losing their first six matches under Hasler.
The Cowboys showed more commitment in defence in the second half but still managed to shoot themselves in the foot at the attacking end.
Both wingers, Kyle Feldt and Valemei, dropped the ball over the line as they reached out to score although Smith-Shields was lucky to just cop a penalty for the second near-miss when he shoulder-charged his former Raiders teammate as he dived over in the corner.
The visitors finally opened their account on the hour mark when a Scott Drinkwater break downfield from a kick return was followed by Chad Townsend grubbering for Jeremiah Nanai to notch a try in his 50th NRL game, his 31st and 16th from a kick.
Valentine Holmes became the third Cowboy to spill the pill over the stripe after Valemei batted back a high kick but the Maoons centre was denied by a last-gasp diving tackle from Jojo Fifita, who had sprinted across from the opposite side of the field.
With Foran hobbling off with a hamstring problem and Brimson also forced off with his groin injury, there were more than a few nervous flutters through the Gold Coast camp but they managed to hang on when Nanai touched down a second time with five minutes remaining and Feldt also crossed in the shadows of full-time.
Brian Kelly also went to the sheds before the final siren and Feldt nearly stole victory in the dying seconds with North Queensland’s last roll of the dice but was denied by a Sam Verrills try-saver.
Gold Coast deservedly move away from South Sydney on the bottom rung of the NRL ladder while the Cowboys are heading backwards fast in 12th spot.
with AAP
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