The loss of Matt Moylan has not stopped Cronulla running out 40-10 NRL winners over Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium.
Kiwi playmaker Shaun Johnson stood tall on Saturday afternoon after Moylan's first-half departure, as the Sharks ran amok in the second stanza to seal their third-straight victory for the first time since the end of the 2018 season.
Fullback Moylan lasted barely half-an-hour before aggravating his troublesome hamstring trying to run down try-bound Titans winger Corey Thompson and adding to his injury woes.
Moylan was playing just his fifth game of the season after being restricted last season to only 11 appearances.
Cronulla coach John Morris said more would be known after Moylan received scans on his return to Sydney but was resigned to losing his star No.1 for at least a "couple of weeks".
Morris said Josh Dugan - who filled in on Saturday for Moylan - might remain at the back or he had the option of Will Kennedy in next week's "test" against Penrith.
Cronulla (4-4 record) provisionally move into the top eight with a fourth win in five games, sealed by five unanswered second-half tries.
"Our last two wins, we have given away a few cheap points in the end so I was really happy with our second-half defensive intent," Morris said.
"I am proud of the boys ... but our challenge now is to knock off some good sides and that will come next week against Penrith - it will be a big test."
It was a return to Cbus Super Stadium to forget for the Titans.
They marked their first game at their home ground since the resumption with a 10th-straight loss at the venue and yet more injury concerns.
Hooker Mitch Rein (knee) was lost in the 31st minute before his replacement Tanah Boyd received treatment for a shoulder knock in the 57th.
Gold Coast's depth had already been tested after losing influential back-rower Kevin Proctor (biceps) and winger Phillip Sami (shoulder) at mid-week training.
Johnson showed no mercy, combining with halves partner Chad Townsend to spark the second-half onslaught and push his season tally of try assists to a league-leading 12.
Moylan and Johnson tore apart the Titans' right-side defence early but had little to show for their dominance with the Sharks holding a 12-10 halftime lead.
Adding to their frustration, Moylan was off soon after reaching for his hamstring as he tried to reel in Thompson who pounced on a grassed Johnson pass and sprinted 85m to score in the 25th minute.
"I thought we were the better side in the first half. It could have been a good story but we were blown off the park in the second half," Titans coach Justin Holbrook said.
Australian Associated Press
