NRL: Titans keep final hopes alive with win

William Zillman of the Titans runs the ball during the round 19 NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Gold Coast Titans. Photo / Getty Images.

Gold Coast kept their NRL finals hopes alive in blistering form today, with an eight-try 38-26 flogging of Canberra.

Needing a win to stay in touch with the top eight, the Titans all but wrapped up the match with five first-half tries to one.

They took a 22-4 halftime lead and were on their way to their biggest ever winning margin over the Raiders at 38-10 with six minutes left, before easing up.

As a consolation prize, the Raiders managed the last three tries of the match to boost the scoreline to a more respectable 12-point deficit.

Ex-Raider William Zillman was superb at fullback for the Titans, scoring two tries for his first four-pointers of the year.

He was one of four Titans who notched their first tries for the season, along with Luke O'Dwyer, Luke Douglas and debutant Beau Falloon.

The loss put a dent in the Raiders' own finals ambitions and brought them back to earth after last week's memorable 40-12 thumping of Melbourne.

They were seeking their first three-win streak since 2010, but will be left to lick their wounds after another dismal defensive performance.

Raiders fans were forgiven for thinking they were in for an enjoyable afternoon after winger Blake Ferguson scored an easy opening try just three minutes in.

But the Titans, who have now enjoyed five of their seven victories away from Skilled Park, were quick to launch a devastating reply.

Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Douglas and Steve Michaels all scored in the next 25 minutes to turn the game on its head.

The Raiders' defence, much maligned this season, was again to blame, and at one stage they'd posted 13 missed tackles, more than five times that of their opponents.

It had the Titans up by 22-4 at halftime, despite having averaged just 17 points per game this season.

-AAP