The Gold Coast Titans have chalked up another win in the comforting bosom of Skilled Park.

Given the horror run they face to finish the season, the true value of the 32-18 victory over the New Zealand Warriors – and the rest of their early-season scalps - may not be fully known until September begins to beckon.

In their new stadium at Robina, the Titans remain the undisputed kingpins.

The club has been blessed with five home games in the first seven rounds, winning them all on the way to the top of the NRL ladder.

Even without co-captain Luke Bailey and suspended five-eighth Mat Rogers, the Titans are purring like a sports car. Scott Prince’s exploits need no further praise, while fullback Preston Campbell, hooker Nathan Friend and centre Brett Delaney have all taken their form to the next level.

They hit the road next weekend to face the Knights and while coach John Cartwright isn’t gazing too far into the future, a list of imposing assignments to tail out the season has them in for a tough scrap if they are jostling for finals positions.

In round 21 they travel to Melbourne to face the Storm, backing that up with the Cowboys in Townsville (round 23), the Broncos at Suncorp (round 24) and the Sea Eagles at Brookvale (round 25).

“No-one ever looks that far down the track. Such is the competition. So many things come into play,” Cartwright said.

“But if you’re not playing good footy, you get found out.”
 
Cartwright admitted he was worried about the prospect of facing the Warriors, one of the league’s most physically imposing and unpredictable outfits.

The New Zealand side had the number of the Titans last season, twice inflicting heavy defeats on the NRL’s new boys.

It was third time lucky for the league’s surprise pace-setters, with a brilliant exhibition of running football from Campbell exposing the frailties of New Zealand’s colossal pack.

Cartwright paid tribute to his forwards, who more than matched it with the Warriors when they collided in the middle of the park.

“I was really concerned about that game coming into it. With the competition now, the more wins you get the closer you are to a loss I suppose. But in general, they’re the type of side that troubled us last year,” Cartwright said.

“They’re a big physical side and we struggled a bit with those sides. I was really keen to see how we aimed up physically. And we did.”

The recruitment of big bopper Aaron Cannings last season has added sufficient bulk to the Titans pack, while Anthony Laffranchi and Mark Minichiello play above their weight, matching it with bigger opponents and usually coming out on top.

Centre Luke O’Dwyer (ankle) and prop Brett Hodgson (knee) were the casualties for the Gold Coast, with both in doubt for the clash with the Knights.