NRL: Titans snap streak to beat Rabbitohs

William Zillman of the Titans makes a break. Photo / Getty Images

The Gold Coast returned to their grinding ways to snap a six-game NRL losing streak and continue round 17's theme of gigantic upsets with a 14-10 defeat of South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday.

In a frustrating stop-start affair dominated by penalties and dropped ball, the Titans toughed out the win on the back of some stoic second-half defence and a 67th-minute try to Kevin Gordon.

"It was certainly a super win and great to see some confidence back in the players," Cartwright said.

"We probably weren't going as bad as a lot of people thought, over the last few weeks we have started to play some decent footy.

"On the back of an enormous injury count, we have had seven or eight halves combinations, we have had Origin, it has been a really difficult period.

"But there were certain games over the past few weeks that we should have won so it was nice to grind one out."

In a game which produced 25 penalties from referees Ashley Klein and Gavin Reynolds, the second-most penalties in NRL history after a Manly-Warriors round-five clash in 2006 which totalled 26, Souths had their chances to win but repeated dropped ball let them down.

Rabbitohs five-eighth Luke Keary opened the scoring in the ninth minute in his first game of the year since suffering a pectoral muscle injury at the Auckland Nines, when the Titans failed to deal with one of his last-tackle bombs.

Adam Reynolds' conversion and a 29th-minute penalty pushed the home side out to 8-0 before Titans halves Daniel Mortimer and Albert Kelly combined to send David Mead over in the 34th minute.

The Titans tied things up in the 48th minute when William Zillman crossed for a try that Souths claimed was obstruction, with Mark Minichiello possibly interfering with Adam Reynolds in the Souths defensive line.

"Adam Reynolds got knocked over there and they went straight into the hole so I'm not sure what the ruling there is," Souths coach Michael Maguire said.

Gordon then crossed out wide 13 minutes from fulltime after chasing down a Mortimer bomb before the Titans' left winger landed the sideline conversion.

The Titans' win came just 48 hours over last-placed Cronulla's dramatic 30-28 victory over premiers the Sydney Roosters.

In one of the tightest competitions in years, just four points separate the top 10 teams with nine rounds to play.

"It was very frustrating, definitely not the way we can play," Maguire said.

"We didn't play well, we need to cop that on the chin.

"We have to learn to hang onto the ball."

Souths forward Luke Burgess was placed on report for a high tackle on Matt White early in the second half.

His brother George suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury early in the second half but Maguire said he should be fit to face Parramatta in two weeks after a bye.

Titans captain Zillman left the field late in the second half with concussion but Cartwright said he is likely to be fit to play Canberra on Sunday.

- AAP