Loss leaves Titans at crisis point

Sisa Waqa takes out Kevin Gordon after a bomb. Source: Adam Head / News Corp Australia

THE Gold Coast Titans' season is on life support and the club's supporters seem to be heading the same way.

A crowd of just 6497 turned up at Cbus Super Stadium on Monday night to watch the Titans fall 24-20 to Melbourne, their fifth straight loss.

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Sisa Waqa takes out Kevin Gordon after a bomb. Source: News Corp Australia

State of Origin had ripped Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Dave Taylor, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith Ryan Hoffman from the contest, and Cooper Cronk was missing with injury.

But it was nearly 3000 less than the club's previous worst home crowd (9482 against the Cowboys in Round 4).

Ashley Harrison injures his shoulder. Source: News Corp Australia

Three of the four worst crowds in the club's history have been this season and last night's was just 41 more than the 6456 that turned out to watch the Tigers and Cowboys at Campbelltown in Round 6, which was the lowest in the NRL this year.

After a 6-2 start to the season which saw them sit equal first on the ladder, the Titans are now 6-7 and languishing in 12th spot heading into Sunday's home game against the struggling Dragons.

Sisa Waqa saves the day. Source: News Corp Australia

Aside from the Origin absences, first-choice halves Albert Kelly and Aidan Sezer were also sidelined along with Paul Carter, who was stood down by the club for two weeks after being charged with high-range drink driving.

And their casualty ward grew after just eight minutes when halfback Beau Henry left the field with a suspected posterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee.

Tohu Harris tackled. Source: News Corp Australia

Lock Ashley Harrison, who bravely returned from a fractured neck, went into the match still feeling some of the effects of the injury, including weakness in his left arm, and left the field after 24 minutes.

All eyes were on Titans speedster James Roberts, who was making his Gold Coast debut, but it was another Roberts who stole the show early.

Brad Tighe pounces on the ball to score. Source: News Corp Australia

Parramatta discard Ben Roberts slipped past veteran Titans prop Luke Bailey in the 11th minute, then fooled fullback William Zillman.

Centre Will Chambers, who was released from Queensland camp on Sunday, stretched Melbourne's lead soon after.

Ben Roberts in action. Source: News Corp Australia

But the Titans rallied with Maurice Blair producing two deft kicks for Brad Tighe and Kevin Gordon to score.

Kevin Gordon added to his highlights reel of freakish tries, but the Titans couldn't find the match-winning points in the final minutes.

MELBOURNE 24 (W Chambers 2 B Hampton K Mann B Roberts tries B Roberts 2 goals) bt GOLD COAST 20 (K Gordon 2 J Roberts B Tighe tries K Gordon 2 goals) at Cbus Super Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, David Munro. Crowd: 6,497.

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