Terrific Titans pluck lowly Roosters

v BYE

Gold Coast Titans have produced a strong defensive display before a late blitz helped them to a 26-6 victory over the Sydney Roosters in front of 9,363 fans at Robina. 

For the first hour of this game - the game was marked by errors and penalties - with only sporadic moments of attack. Gold Coast then exploded into attack with three tries in the final quarter to punish the Roosters and blow the margin out to 20. 

It was a try right on the half-time break that set the Titans on course though, powerful forward Agnatius Paasi, who was a handful all night, extended his arms just enough to give the bunker cause to overule on the on-field decision of no try and make it 8-6 to the home side. 

Roosters had some spurts of the team that was minor premiers the last three seasons - highlighted by their 32nd minute try which doubled as their only linebreak of the contest. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves popped an offload to explosive fullback, Latrell Mitchell to angle his run and sprint away for the opening score. 

They thought they had their second when some link play found Daniel Tupou in space before it worked across to Jake Friend seemingly score. It was denied due to an obstruction back in their own half. 

From there the Titans lifted and put the contest to bed. First David Mead dived over and injured himself from a brilliant cut-out ball from Tyrone Roberts before Chris McQueen and William Zillman put the emphasis on the victory. 

The 20-6 victory tonight lifted the Titans away from the bottom and into the cluster of teams placed 10-12th. 

This loss just makes the job a touch harder for the Bondi side though, as they lay 15th with the Knights the only side propping them up. They take on heavyweights Canterbury next Sunday at ANZ Stadium, while the Titans are off to Penrith to face the Panthers on Sunday.