Things have gone from bad to worse for Cronulla as they lost their fifth game of the season and suffered another injury to Georgia Ravics at Ocean Protect Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Despite playing for their culture and people that went before them, as well as the milestones of two debutants, the hosts quickly discovered why the Titans sit in 3rd on the NRLW ladder.
Electric in both attack and defence, the Gold Coast were unforgiving, holding Cronulla to nil in the second 35. Even losing Indie Bostock to the sin bin early on did not phase them, as they went on to score one player down equalling the energy with 12 girls.
In just their first set of the game, Cronulla earnt seven tackles, and Tiana Penitani Gray was able to cross but the try was disallowed due to an offside ruling.
Though, positive signs continued from the home side as they earnt a penalty, and forced an error in the two sets to follow.
Pressure continued to mount for the Titans when Indie Bostock was sin-binned in the eighth minute for a professional foul, holding down Penitani Gray after she made a break down the left wing.
After multiple attacking opportunities, finally getting their first of the afternoon, a Hannaway cut-out pass to Milla Elaro on the wing saw the debutant cross next to the posts. With the five-eighth converting the Sharks led 6-0.
In a return serve play, still one woman down, a simple hands series spread the ball across to Phoenix-Raine Hippi who went through untouched. Lauren Brown could not convert.
With 10 minutes left in the first-half an even battle loomed as the visitors forced their way downfield and in the opposite corner, Sienna Ibrahim also on debut got their second of the afternoon.
Another wave of spark entered the Sharks squad, and a 3 player combination ignited by a linebreak from Jacinta Carter broke apart the defence. Slick hands to Georgia Ravics put the hosts back in front.
The Titans were quick to jump on a moment of fatigue and powering under the posts was Sienna Lofipo in the 33rd minute.
Not dropping their heads after the break, a strong play from Jada Taylor gifted Cronulla a boost as she took the opposing fullback over the dead ball line to earn her team a goal line dropout.
Though opening the second half scoring, the visitors showed once again why they are sitting in third as Lily Kolc made a linebreak and handed it off to Lofipo for a double. Minutes later, Ibrahim was also lucky enough to grab a double on her debut.
Brown converted both, her side now led 24-10.
The Titans had definitely come to make a statement, as they continued to terrorise the defence, holding them to nil in the second half and etching their fifth straight win in the books.
Cronulla now look towards next week, where they take on the Cowboys in Townsville.
