Canberra Raiders beat Gold Coast Titans 24-12 in NRL round 2 clash at Skilled ParkIT was the new Gold Coast Titans, but the same old disappointing home performance.
Lack of urgency, low intensity, poor kicking game and a paltry home crowd.
The Titans' honeymoon start to 2012 crashed back to reality yesterday with a 24-12 defeat at the hands of a dominant Canberra outfit in front of just 11,378 fans at Robina's Skilled Park.
After winning only three home games during their dark 2011 season, the Titans' four tries to two loss stretched their record to just one win from their past eight games on the glitter strip.
Making matters worse for the Titans winger David Mead was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
Despite being level 12-12 at halftime the Raiders always seemed the more likely team and would have won by more if not for some committed Titans defence.
Coach John Cartwright said his side failed to build any pressure in attack and has put the heat on underperforming halfback Scott Prince.
"It's hard to score points off the back of one set of six," Cartwright said. "I don't think we forced a dropout again tonight, I'm not having a go at this kid (Prince) but to win tight games you have to get repeat sets.
"They came up with three or four and we came up with none.
"It was a game when you look at your draw you pick out the ones you should win. It was one we definitely thought we should win, especially coming back from North Queensland with a win."
Raiders centre Jarrod Croker finished with a double, while Josh Dugan and Joel Thompson also crossed the stripe as the Raiders secured their first win of 2012.
Canberra were the better team for the first 30 minutes of each half, with the Titans only really challenging late in each stanza.
Tries to Dominique Peyroux and Jordan Rankin kept the Titans in the game at halftime, but the Gold Coast were unable to cross in the second half.
Raiders coach David Furner was pleased his side had turned around the heartbreaking 24-19 home defeat to Melbourne Storm last week.
He praised 19-year-old winger Jack Wighton whose aerial athleticism led to Croker's first try and he also made some telling defensive plays on debut.
"He is a good young kid," Furner said. "To come up with a try assist with a tap back, a pretty good debut."
Source: Courier Mail
Topic: Raiders Send Titans Back to Reality
