Titans turn it on as Sea Eagles turn it up

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Gold Coast Titans v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

The Gold Coast Titans have claimed their first win since Magic Round with an emphatic 44-24 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles to move off the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Breaking a run of ten consecutive losses dating back to May, the Titans were in scintillating form to all but end the Sea Eagles' finals hopes and temporarily consign the Wests Tigers to last position due to for-and-against differential.

Overcoming a horror opening which saw Jaimin Jolliffe make an error off the kick-off and Haumole Olakau'atu denied a powerhouse try due to intervention by the bunker, the Titans posted first points with recalled prop Jarrod Wallace delivering a superb offload to send fellow front-rower Jolliffe (6th minute) over for a rare try.

The Sea Eagles were quick to take advantage of an error by their opponents minutes later with future Titan Kieran Foran instigating a left side raid finished off by Reuben Garrick (10th minute) in support.

In a case of both sides trading tries midway through the half, Titans rookie Sosefo Fifita (21st minute) showed no ill effects of a high shot from Dylan Walker, which saw the Manly utility sent to the sin bin, before Jake Trbojevic (23rd minute) responded to open his try-scoring account for the season.

The home side struck a major blow shortly before the break with Brian Kelly latching onto a cut-out pass from Daly Cherry-Evans to race 65 metres untouched and Tanah Boyd adding a late penalty goal to give the Titans a 20-12 lead. 

Coming out for the second half intent on breaking through for a win, Beau Fermor (45th minute) pounced on a grubber from AJ Brimson to push the Titans further in front.

Securing the result with two superstar plays in as many minutes, Brimson (54th minute) used footwork and speed to push the score beyond 30 before David Fifita (57th minute) broke free with a 50 metre charge to the delight of 11,753 supporters.

The Sea Eagles posted consolation four-pointers with Brad Parker (61st minute) sliding over in his first game back from a long-term injury and Tolutau Koula (70th minute) restoring a modicum of respectability to an otherwise disastrous half.

The Titans finished the match on a high with Fermor (79th minute) charging into space for his second to cap a season best performance for the victors.

Adding insult to injury for the Sea Eagles, who failed to rise to the occasion of Des Hasler's 300th game as club coach, winger Jason Saab was assisted from the field with a suspected ACL injury.

Next week, the Titans face the Dragons in Wollongong on Sunday afternoon, while the Sea Eagles will host the Sharks in a must-win encounter on Saturday evening.