The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans shot to equal first on the NRL ladder and put to rest their last remaining hoodoo with an entertaining 28-24 win over St George Illawarra at Skilled Park tonight.

In a gripping clash between two of the NRL’s heavyweights, the Titans notched their landmark first ever victory over the Dragons after outlasting the fast-finishing visitors during a tense final 17 minutes.

Titans forward Brad Meyers charges into the Dragons defence.

Two opening half tries to bullocking forward Brad Meyers gave the Titans a comfortable 22-2 lead at the break as the home side looked set to run away with the match in front of a vocal crowd of 20,416.

But the Dragons refused to go away in the second half, scoring a try with 30 seconds left on the clock to fall short of a remarkable comeback.

Both sides had to contend with the late withdrawal of players, with the Titans losing Queensland forward Ashley Harrison and the Dragons left without winger Darius Boyd after the NRL ordered them to stand down following a swine flu scare.

The pair were placed into quarantine as a precaution after Maroons teammate Ben Hannant tested positive to swine flu in the wake of last week’s State of Origin match in Melbourne.

At one point the Titans also appeared to be running out of troops on the interchange bench as the Dragons began to mount a second half challenge.

Inspirational prop Luke Bailey had x-rays on a suspected broken arm midway through the match only to be cleared of major injury and courageously return to the field while Mat Rogers (hamstring) and Brad Meyers (concussion) also suffered injuries.

But the Titans showed plenty of grit to notch an important win which elevates them to equal first on 18 competition points with the Dragons, Broncos, Bulldogs and Newcastle.

Both sides traded penalty goals in the opening 10 minutes before flyer Chris Walker scored a skillful try in the 14th minute after re-gathering a Scott Prince grubber kick.

Prince added the extras to give the Titans a 8-2 lead.

That margin was extended to 14-2 minutes later when some quick hands from Prince and fullback Preston Campbell on the end of a backline movement helped put young centre Esi Tonga over in the left corner.

The free-flowing football continued from the Titans, with backrower Brad Meyers barging over on the end of another well constructed movement to give the Titans an 18-2 lead after 23 minutes.

Video referee Paul Simpkins was consulted over the grounding of the football and awarded the benefit of the doubt to the home side.

Meyers then completed a memorable night minutes before halftime when he crossed for his double in the right corner, after Prince switched play and found Laffranchi and Meyers down the right sideline.

Prince was unsuccessful with the sideline conversion but the Titans were in control at 22-2 at the break.

The Dragons though wasted no time after the break, scoring in the 45th minute through cult figure Wendell Sailor. Soward booted the conversion to give the visitors a sniff at 22-8.

Titans utility Luke O’Dwyer hit back when he pounced on a grubber by Campbell and Prince converted to give the home side a 20-point lead.

But two quick tries in the space of four minutes to five-eighth Jamie Soward and winger Brett Morris helped the Dragons get right back into the match at 28-20 with 17 minutes left on the clock.

Tonga was then put on report for a tackle on Soward in the 72nd minute as the Dragons looked to be coming home with a wet sail but the Titans held off the challenge.