11 Mar 2014

Titans beat Sharks in Monday Night opener

5:21 am on 11 March 2014

The Gold Coast Titans have beaten the Cronulla Sharks 18-12 to ensure the hosts' difficult start to the 2014 National Rugby League season continues.

With coach Shane Flanagan failing in his appeal to overturn a 12-month ban from the NRL last week, the Sharks, already without Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington, also lost talismanic skipper Paul Gallen with a potentially serious ankle injury.

The Titans were deserving winners, claiming the two points with a William Zillman try nine minutes from time following a smart grubber-kick from former Shark Albert Kelly.

Titans coach John Cartwright says he's delighted with his side's efforts, and he thinks the result should have been more comprehensive with a Kelly try ruled out in the second half after the video referee ruled he lost control of the ball.