Canterbury have completed a miserable week for Gold Coast with a 26-14 NRL win at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
The Titans, who sacked coach Neil Henry on Monday, slumped to a sixth consecutive defeat as their season continues to unravel.
For the fifth week in a row they were unable to score a single point in the opening half.
The Bulldogs charged to a commanding 20-0 halftime lead on the back of a Will Hopoate double — the former NSW State of Origin player’s first tries of the year.
The Titans, under the leadership of Henry’s former assistants Terry Matterson and Craig Hodges, mounted a second-half fightback through tries to Tyrone Roberts and Anthony Don.
Ash Taylor summed up the past few days for the Titans, however, in the 76th minute when he threw a speculative pass on his own tryline straight to a grateful Josh Morris to seal the win for the visitors.
There was still time left for Titans centre Phillip Sami to score his first NRL career try in a rare bright moment for the hosts.
Titans’ fullback Jarryd Hayne, the man under most scrutiny in the wake of Henry’s axing due to a feud between the pair which many feel lead to the coach’s demise, had another underwhelming day for the Gold Coast.
Hayne did have a hand in Don’s try with a cross-field bomb but shortly afterward found himself the recipient of Bronx cheers when a drilled kick flew well over the sideline on the full.
The victory is just the Bulldogs’ second on the road this year but did come with a cost after halfback Moses Mbye failed a head injury assessment in the first half after being hit late by Jarrod Wallace.
Winger Brett Morris (rib injury) also failed to complete the match.
The Titans had injury concerns of their own with Dale Copley (groin) and stand-in skipper Nathan Peats (shoulder) coming off in the second half.
Canterbury wrap up their season next week against St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium while the Titans are on the road against the Sydney Roosters.