9 Apr 2011

Titans lose again as poor start to season continues

2:10 pm on 9 April 2011

Gold Coast's horror start to the 2011 NRL rugby league season has continued with a 22-12 loss to North Queensland in Townsville on Friday night.

The Titans have now won just one of their opening five matches and had no answers for a dominant Cowboys attack.

North Queensland linchpins Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston were again pivotal on attack, exploiting the Titans' right wing.

The Cowboys raced to a 22-0 lead at half-time with tries to Willie Tonga, Thurston, Gavin Cooper and Bowen all coming down the left.

The only tries in the second half went to the Titans, who could have been closer had Luke Capewell not spurned a clear-cut try, spilling the ball when he was through on the try line 20 minutes into the first half.

The Titans second rower Anthony Laffranchi played little part in the second half after coming off injured.