Second-half blitz helps Roosters swamp Titans

The Titans couldn't go on with a strong first half at Central Coast Stadium as the Roosters produced 28 unanswered second-half points to hand Gold Coast a 34-14 loss.

The Titans had the measure of an underwhelming Tricolours in the opening 40, going to the sheds with an eight-point advantage, but collapsed in the face of an energetic Roosters almost from the moment the second half got underway.

In a match being billed as an Origin audition for plenty of players, there were mixed fortunes for the various candidates as some players looked to have pushed themselves into or out of contention.

Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell produced some worrying defensive lapses and a non-existent game in attack for just over 50 minutes before exploding through a 12-man Titans line in the second half and then getting himself sin-binned for goal-line infringements.

Winger Blake Ferguson produced some characteristically strong carries but had a couple of clangers as well. Luke Keary had little impact on the game but both Boyd Cordner and James Tedesco were strong and involved, with the latter bagging a first-half try before splitting the Titans for a long-range try assists in the second.

For the Titans, Jarrod Wallace did his Maroons hopes no harm (especially given a likely one-game suspension to Cowboy Matt Scott) with a big effort up front while lock Jai Arrow produced another monster effort however was troubled by a shoulder injury in the second half having already been troubled by rib and back injuries in recent weeks.

The Titans opened the contest with plenty of energy and profited from some Roosters ill-discipline, with plenty of early penalties against the Tricolours.

It first handed the Titans a 2-0 lead in the fourth minute before Michael Gordon benefited from Blake Ferguson fluffing an Ash Taylor grubber kick in the Roosters' in-goal in the ninth minute.

A James Tedesco try off a neat Jake Friend grubber levelled the scores after 15 minutes but the Titans continued to enjoy the better of the field position.

They were unlucky to be denied a try to Anthony Don created by an exquisite Taylor pass in the 28th minute due to a marginal obstruction call but the same combination couldn't be denied three minutes later when Taylor again threaded the needle and Don touched down inside the right corner post.

Another penalty goal stretched the Titans' half-time lead to 14-6.

The Roosters needed a change of attitude in the second half and produced it with both teams looking nothing like their first-half selves.