Gold Coast Titans

The Titans trailed by two points early but ran in three tries to lead 18-2 after 42 minutes as Tim Sheens looked on in concern as the home side struggled with a completion rate below 65 per cent for the contest. 

Tries to Adam Doueihi and Daine Laurie sparked the Wests Tigers with 15 minutes to go but costly errors and poor goal-kicking killed off any chance of setting up a big finish. 

For their part, the Tigers haven't tasted finals since 2011, while the Titans have been there just once in the past six seasons so both clubs are aware something needs to change.

The acquisition of Api Koroisau, David Klemmer, John Bateman and Isaiah Papali'i, coupled with the ongoing development of Fonua Pole and Stefano Utoikamanu gives the Tigers pack a more potent look, but they'll need halves Adam Doueihi and Luke Brooks to come to the party if they are to trouble the top sides.

St George Illawarra led by as much as 22-6 late in the first half, but didn't pull away until late and were ahead by just four points when Molo was sent from the field for a high tackle on Patrick Herbert, which ruled the Titan out for the remainder of the game.

The Gold Coast meanwhile failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage in the closing exchanges, and in the end collapsed badly to leak three tries in that period. 

Seemingly in good shape in eighth position just six weeks ago, the Dragons have now slumped to 11th and will miss the finals for a fourth straight year - the longest absence since joint venture began in 1999.

Meanwhile, despite being well out of the finals race, the Titans have shown positive signs in the past month, desperate to avoid their second wooden spoon in four years.

When these sides met in Round 10 it was the Titans prevailing 20-16 in Magic Round. Justin Holbrook's men then lost 10 in a row before stunning the Sea Eagles at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Gold Coast, who headed into Sunday's match on a 10-game losing streak and without their skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who missed the game due to the impending birth of his second child, ran riot against Manly for their biggest win of the year.

The result all but ends Manly's top-eight hopes, while they also lost winger Jason Saab to a suspected ACL injury in the second half. 

After making the finals in 2021 the Titans have had a huge fall from grace, winning just three games all season and scrambling to avoid a second wooden spoon in four years.

The Sea Eagles find themselves two games out of the eight on the back of three straight losses and must turn things around quickly if they hope to be part of the finals action.

When these sides met in Round 6 it was Manly racing to a 24-4 half-time lead before taking their foot off the gas in the second term and hanging on to win 26-18.

Munster, who played predominantly as a fullback for the first four seasons of his NRL career, was a late inclusion at the back as cover for the injured Nick Meaney and didn't disappoint, scoring 20 points all up thanks to his three tries and four conversions. 

Hughes, who suffered the injury late in the first half and played through to the break before being taken from the game, will have scans on Saturday, while the Storm will also wait to see what comes of Brandon Smith being placed on report for a hip-drop style tackle on 28 minutes. 

A top-four finish will be the focus for Melbourne who face a tough run home with games against the Panthers, Broncos, Roosters and Eels after this weekend.

The Titans are out to restore pride after a horror season and if they are to rattle the Storm's cage much will depend on David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui laying a foundation for AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell to work off.

The only sour note was the loss of influential forward Adam Elliott to a hip injury in the second half, after he had looked on track to join Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine in running for over 150 metres at Cbus Super Stadium.

Tapine's total haul of 173 metres was all the more impressive given he spent 10 minutes in the bin after throwing a punch in a first-half melee with Titans hooker Aaron Booth. 

After tackling the Titans on Saturday, Ricky Stuart's men have matches to come against the Panthers, Dragons, Knights, Sea Eagles and Tigers so they are well positioned to make a return to the finals after missing out last year.

The Titans have shown positive signs in the past fortnight against the Broncos and Bulldogs but they still remain equal last and face an uphill battle to avoid a second wooden spoon in four years.