North Queensland put an end to Gold Coast's nine-game winning streak at Skilled Park in Robina with an upset NRL win last night.
And in Sydney, St George-Illawarra showed off their premiership credentials with victory over the Storm.
In the Queensland match, a near-perfect first-half performance set up the winas fullback Matt Bowen signalled a return to his best with two tries, carving the Titans up in attack and cutting them down in defence.
The hosts simply had no answer to the sublime performances of Bowen and inspirational skipper Johnathan Thurston. The Cowboys led 22-0 at half time before the Titans finally got on the scoreboard through a converted try to winger Kevin Gordon.
But instead of triggering a Titans comeback, it merely sparked the Cowboys into action with two quick tries tries to Bowen and forward Steve Rapira to push the lead out to 34-6.
The Cowboys posted four tries in the first half, three of them converted by Thurston.
Further south, the Dragons excelled in their biggest test of the season and scored five tries to Melbourne's two.
Wendell Sailor notched up a double and Brett Morris, Beau Scott and Jon Green also picked up tries.
The Storm's Brett Finch and Greg Inglis each picked up first-half tries within three minutes of each other.
The Dragons, who trailed 12-8 at halftime, took the lead straight after the break when playmaker Jamie Soward sent a crafty kick into centre field to find Scott.
The ladder leaders looked to have given up their advantage almost immediately when a Finch kick bounced luckily for the Storm and Joseph Tomane headed for the tryline.
But video referee Bill Harrigan decided Tomane's efforts fell short.
The lucky escape for the Dragons fuelled the home-side's hunger and their energy lifted.
Sailor's second try in the 61st minute fuelled the euphoria. The big winger can thank his five-eighth Soward for the perfect ball, which landed on his chest with super timing.
Storm winger Steve Turner took it upon himself to spark the visitors' attack, breaking free and streaking away down field from 70 metres out.
He looked to be home but a spectacular chasing effort from Dragons second rower Ben Creagh topped off with a desperate from-behind tackle pulled him up just short.
