KEY POINTS:
The return of North Queensland skipper Johnathan Thurston was upstaged by winger Jordan Atkins' stunning NRL debut as the Titans ran out 36-18 winners in their season opener on the Gold Coast.
Thurston may have had top billing after making a remarkable comeback from injury but Atkins stole
the show with a thrilling four-try haul. The only other player to score four tries on debut was Tony Nash for Canterbury in 1942.
The Titans learned only an hour before kickoff that Thurston would definitely return from two shoulder reconstructions and play more than four weeks earlier than expected.
However, the spotlight was soon firmly on 25-year-old Atkins of Stanthorpe. He became the first player off the club's local talent production line to make his NRL debut and his heroics helped seal a fitting christening to the Titans' new A$160 million Robina home, Skilled Park.
Thurston tried to carry the Cowboys on his reconstructed shoulders, scoring all but four of North Queensland's points, including a two-try haul, but it was all to no avail.
The Titans jumped to a 22-6 first half lead by piling on four tries including two in five minutes by Atkins. The second, in the 25th minute, was contentious.
He leaped to snaffle a Scott Prince crossfield kick but appeared to lose control as he crashed down to earth. However, video referee Tim Mander gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Just when the Titans threatened to run amok, that man Thurston scrambled over to score right on halftime to cut the deficit to 22-12.
Atkins completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute, thanks to a clever overhead pass by Brett Delaney. Thurston crossed for a solo try in the 70th but Atkins was not to be outdone - his fourth four-pointer was confirmed by Mander in the 76th.
The Cowboys' test backrower Luke O'Donnell is on report for a 64th minute high shot on Titans reserve Josh Graham.
Titans coach John Cartwright said the win was the result of much preparation.
"I was very confident," he said. "It was probably the smoothest, the best preparation I've been involved with at that level."
He said the team has followed on well from pre-season form.
Cowboys coach Graham Murray said there was plenty of improvement left in his team.
"We've had a few years now when we've had a win in our first game," he said. "This is a bit new to us that we got beat but we'll improve a lot for sure."
Titans 36 (J Atkins 4, L Bailey, A Laffranchi tries, S Prince 6 goals)
Cowboys 18 (J Thurston 2, B Harris tries; Thurston 3 goals).