NRL: Queensland duo dominate for Souths

David Taylor of the Rabbitohs is tackled. Photo / Getty Images

Rabbitohs 31
Titans 8

South Sydney's Queensland contingent guided the Rabbitohs to a comfortable 31-8 NRL win over a disappointing Gold Coast outfit at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Despite backing up from a State of Origin loss on Wednesday night, giant second-rower Dave Taylor was the Rabbitohs' best.

Taylor set up two tries in the crucial victory while his Maroons teammate Greg Inglis grabbed a runaway late try to finish the scoring and delight the crowd of 8021.

The Titans, who looked devoid of options in attack, were missing NSW lock Greg Bird, but had Ashley Harrison backing up from Origin duties.

But it was Taylor who wreaked havoc with his powerful runs and monstrous hits.

He set up the opening try of the match to James Roberts when he latched onto a Chris Sandow bomb before offloading out wide.

The 22-year-old Taylor was in everything all night and showed his full set of skills in the 74th when he made a bust down the right hand side in a movement that led to Nathan Merritt bagging his ninth try of the season.

The Titans briefly made the home team work hard for the victory, scoring two tries from kicks to David Mead and Joe Tomane in a five minute period in the second half to reduce the lead to just six.

But a Chris Sandow field goal in the 68th minute iced the game for the Rabbitohs before late tries to Merritt, Issac Luke and Inglis blew out the score.

The win was built on the back of a dominant first half in which the Rabbitohs led 14-0 thanks to tries to Roberts and Eddy Pettybourne.

Rabbitohs' hooker Nathan Peats was put on report in the 37th minute for pulling the hair of Titans' backrower Ryan James, who suffered a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury right on halftime that looks likely to end his season.

The win sees the Rabbitohs break a three game losing streak and move within one win of the top eight, while the Titans were unable to build on their win last weekend over an Origin-depleted St George Illawarra.

John Cartwright's men, who have lost five of their past six matches, now slip back to 16th place on for and against.

SOUTH SYDNEY 31 (G Inglis I Luke N Merritt E Pettybourne J Roberts tries C Sandow 5 goals C Sandow field goal) bt GOLD COAST 8 (D Moore J Tomane tries) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Jason Robinson, Brett Suttor.

- AAP