NZ Warriors have let another winning chance slip through their fingers, relinquishing a halftime lead to fall 20-18 to Gold Coast Titans.
After conceding a try from the opening kickoff and falling 12 points behind early, the Auckland side battled back to lead at halftime, but were held scoreless over the final 40 minutes, repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot with their inability to take advantage of possession in prime position.
Ultimately, the Titans scored the only try of the second half, through powerful winger Phillip Sami, to snatch their first win of the season, leaving the Warriors still searching for that milestone.
They were rocked in the opening seconds, when Gold Coast half AJ Brimson broke tackles in midfield and charged over halfway, finding second-rower Beau Fermor in support for a try that immediately set the Warriors back.
The Titans went further ahead, when winger Greg Marzhew fended off marker Marcelo Montoya - still recovering from Mikaele Ravalawa's hat-trick against him last week - to score in the corner.
Hooker Wayde Egan darted across from dummy half to get his team back in the contest, but Marzhew exploited Montoya and fullback Reece Walsh again for a try double, but the Warriors pair combined to return the favour moments later.
Half Chanel Harris-Tavita had another try disallowed, when the video official ruled he had lost control, while forcing, but right on halftime, the same player unleashed a 40-20 kick that put his team in perfect attacking position.
Prop Bunty Afoa unloaded in a tackle under the posts and half Ash Taylor stabbed a kick that Sami seemed to smother. Replays showed he failed to force the ball and Warriors winger Adam Pompey had followed up to score, albeit unconvincingly.
Walsh's conversion provided an 18-16 lead that seemed very unlikely for most of the previous 40 minutes.
When Titans fullback Preston Campbell overcooked his second-half kickoff dead in goal, all the momentum seemed to be with the Warriors, but they simply could not make the most of their plentiful opportunities. Time and again, their playmakers failed to manage the end of sets, forcing passes that left those outside them nowhere to go.
With star half Shaun Johnson and Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sidelined through injury, the Warriors were bolstered by the return of wiz kid Walsh and tough prop Matt Lodge from suspension, but lost their hardman after 20 minutes, when he headed to the sideline and threw up in spectacular fashion.
They must now regroup and pursue their first win of the season against Wests Tigers on Friday.
Gold Coast Titans 20 (Fermor, Sami & Marzhew 2 tries, Sexton 2 conversions) NZ Warriors 18 (Egan, Pompey & Montoya try, Walsh 3 conversions)
