The Gold Coast Titans put poor attacking start behind them in NRLW win over New Zealand warriors
The Titans scored just two tries in the first two rounds but matched that in the opening 15 minutes on Saturday as they made the most of their hot start to beat the Warriors 20-10 in Auckland.
Last week's win over the Wests Tigers was the confidence boost they needed, with the Titans moving the ball with precision as both wingers crossed in the first half.
The decision to start Lily-Rose Kolc on the bench proved to be a masterstroke as her fresh legs helped her dart through to score from dummy-half, while Jaime Chapman traded her unrivalled speed for sheer strength as she fought through three defenders to cross in the second half.
These are the wins that can make all the difference in a tight race to the finals, with Lauren Brown's kicking game and the form of their forwards enough to keep them in most games, with Georgia Hale making 40 tackles with just one miss.
ROOM TO GROW
The Warriors will feel like they could have easily won this, but 11 penalties conceded and an unwillingness to chance their arm hurt them in the end as they fell to their third loss from four games in their return to the competition.
They got back within 10 and were camped on the Titans' line for five minutes but couldn't crack them, with an Apii Nicholls grubber sailing dead to end their comeback.
Emmanita Paki should have scored for them in the first half, only for the centre to spill a grubber, but she made no mistake a few minutes later when she offloaded to winger Payton Takimoana who became the first player to reach five tries this season.
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