Mead hat-trick not enough for Titans

A HAT-TRICK of tries by winger David Mead has not been enough to stop the New Zealand Warriors downing the Gold Coast Titans 34-14 at Skilled Park on Sunday.

In a David versus Goliath battle, pint-sized Mead won his NRL duel with recalled Warriors giant Manu Vatuvei - back early from a round one knee injury.

But the Warriors won where it counted - on the scoreboard - to seal their first victory over the Titans since 2007, snapping a run of six straight losses to the Gold Coast.

The Warriors (5-4 record) came back from 8-6 down in the first half to run out six tries to three winners over the Titans (3-6) in front of 17,285 largely Kiwi supporters.

Mead's second career hat-trick was impressive, but Warriors pivot James Maloney was not to be outdone - he amassed a personal points tally of 18, including two tries.

After trailing 22-8 at halftime, the Titans hit back when Bodene Thompson burst from dummy half and set up Mead's third try in the 50th minute.

Scott Prince's sideline conversion cut the deficit to 22-14.

Their joy was shortlived as the Warriors blew the deficit out to 28-14 after backrower Elijah Taylor's borderline pass sent Maloney over in the 60th.

Maloney was over again five minutes later when the Titans were caught napping by a quick re-start, allowing the pivot to run 70 metres untouched under the posts.

A controversial try to Taylor helped the Warriors grab a 14-point half-time lead.

Taylor appeared to be tackled by Preston Campbell and Esi Tonga, only to be told to play on by referee Jared Maxwell when he got to his feet.

Campbell and Tonga stood disbelieving at Maxwell as Taylor simply ran around them and scored.

The Warriors scored the last 16 points of the half, after the Titans grabbed an early 8-6 lead thanks to Mead's double.

While he might not have won his personal duel, Vatuvei did mark his return by crossing in the 17th minute, after Titans lock Ash Harrison knocked on from the re-start following Mead's second try.

Another handling error gifted Warriors captain Simon Mannering a 24th-minute try after Campbell surprisingly dropped a Moloney bomb on his line.

Mannering, Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino and Lewis Brown all backed up from New Zealand's Friday night Test loss to Australia but Sam Rapira (thumb) was not considered.

City backrower Mark Minichiello backed up for the Titans but they lost prop Luke Bailey (neck).

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/