Titans find Des-ire to win in Hasler’s 500th

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Warriors v Gold Coast Titans

The occasion of Des Hasler's 500th game as a first grade coach has inspired the Gold Coast Titans to a 24-16 upset victory over the New Zealand Warriors.

Fighting back from an early 10-0 deficit to claim their seventh win from nine matches against the Warriors this decade, the Titans recorded their fifth win of the season to remain an outside chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.

Making their intentions known with an early try to Adam Pompey (4th minute), the Warriors hit double digits ahead of the clock with last week's match-winner Leka Halasima (8th minute) storming over for his ninth try of the season.

The Warriors' fast start hit a hurdle when hooker Wayde Egan was ruled out of the match after failing a head injury assessment; the Titans made the most of their opponent's misfortune, rallying with tries to Jojo Fifita (11th minute) and Phillip Sami (15th minute) to level the scores at 10-all.

A penalty goal to Jayden Campbell edged the visitors in front late in the first half, while a desperate effort from AJ Brimson to deny an acrobatic effort from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck rewarded the visitors with an unlikely halftime lead.

The Titans continued to grow in confidence following the resumption of play with Kieran Foran - celebrating his 50th game for the club - delivering a sensational cutout pass to send Sami (47th minute) over for his second.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was sent to the sin bin for tackling Brian Kelly off the ball close to the try line; the Titans were quick to capitalise on their one-man advantage with Fifita (56th minute) getting the green light from the bunker for a 24-10 lead.

A slashing run from Tuivasa-Sheck (61st minute) kept the Warriors in the contest, however the Titans weren't to be denied, despite interchange hooker Sean Mullany going to the sin bin in the final minutes, with the side lifting for Hasler's milestone with a 24-16 win.

Next week, the Warriors will host the Dolphins on Friday evening, while the Titans will return home on Saturday afternoon to take on the Panthers.