One finals spot remains in NRL after Titans win

Mike Cooper of the Dragons dots down as Titans defenders get impeded by the post. Photo / Getty

Mercurial forward Dave Taylor has given a glimpse of what could have been in his final NRL home match for Gold Coast.

The giant forward secured a match-winning try in his last outing at CBUS Super Stadium, crashing over to secure the Titans a 28-26 victory on Sunday over St George Illawarra.

A win for the Dragons would have seen the NRL top eight confirmed for the finals.

Taylor's match-winner came when the former Queensland and Australian representative burrowed over from dummy-half.

It was the second try of the match for Taylor, who - after a Gareth Widdop breakaway try for St George Illawarra - also took the ensuing crucial kickoff which went over the deadball line and forced the Dragons into a line dropout.

It was a display tinged with some regret for rugby league fans, however, with Taylor set to head to France at the end of the season to join Super League side Catalans Dragons.

The defeat will be a concern for Dragons coach Paul McGregor, with ninth-placed Manly still a mathematical chance of pushing them out of the eight in the final weekend of the regular season.

The Dragons had held a 20-12 halftime lead and would have expected to take the points against a Titans team which suffered a blow before kickoff with captain Nate Myles (thumb) ruled out.

The hosts also spent most of the second half down to just one fit player on the bench with Beau Falloon (knee), Eddy Pettybourne (ankle) and Lachlan Burr (hip) all picking up knocks.

But a second-half double by David Mead and Taylor's second of the match sealed the win and gave the Titans hope of avoiding the club's second wooden spoon in five seasons.

- AAP