A record 50-point haul in front of a home crowd last week has instilled belief in the Titans to cement back-to-back finals berths, but focus remains firmly on the task at hand as they prepare to hit the road for the next three weeks.
Gold Coast produced the biggest NRLW win in club history against the Eels on Sunday, piling on points in an emphatic display that highlighted their attacking firepower and growing credentials as genuine finals contenders.
Now preparing for a Round 4 clash in North Queensland, Karyn Murphy's squad are backing themselves to carry that momentum into a crucial stretch of the season, built on trust in one another and a commitment to executing their roles.
Match: Cowboys v Titans
Round 4 -
home Team
Cowboys
12th Position
away Team
Titans
4th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
For powerhouse prop Laikha Clarke, who scored the final try and recorded the most running metres in her career at the weekend, the performance was another sign of a squad beginning to realise its potential.
"I feel like it [the win] gives the group lots of confidence, especially with each other to be like 'we are able to score that many if not more'," she said.
The victory also marked another milestone in what Clarke believes to be the strongest season of her career.
"[I'm] not used to those high metres, not used to that many minutes and not used to scoring tries as much," she said.
"It's really breathtaking to know that's what I did in that game."
The Titans' rise could receive another boost this weekend, with Future Titans graduate Eta Sikahele set to make her NRLW debut from the bench against the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday, adding further depth to the forward pack.
"[Eta is] such a young girl but she brings such rawness that the middles aren't really used to," Clarke said.
"She's going to run at whoever and tackle whoever and just give her all and I know that she's going to have such a great debut."
Round 3 highlights: Titans v Eels
Out wide, Sarina Masaga is relishing her return to the starting side for Saturday's showdown in her familiar centre position after having made an impact from the bench as a forward in the opening rounds.
"I'm super grateful that I'm back up starting in the team," she said.
"It's definitely a pleasure to go back out there and play centre, I've spoken to Murph about it and she has given me that full trust and she's allowed me to go out there and just do my best."
Speaking to her minutes played last weekend, she said "It's definitely given me a lot of hope for this weekend and going forward and it's definitely made me more confident to be starting again."
Buoyed by a record-breaking performance but grounded by a clear understanding of what drives their success, the Titans will carry confidence and composure into a busy away schedule.
Titans NRLW hits the road:
- Round 4 v Cowboys in Townsville - Saturday, July 25
- Round 5 v Warriors in Wagga Wagga - Sunday, August 2
- Round 6 v Sharks in Sydney - Saturday, August 8
