Gold Coast thrashed North Queensland Cowboys

Albert Kelly flies in for one of his two tries in Gold Coast's 31-12 win over the Cowboys on Sunday. Image credit: NRL.COM

Gold Coast enter their NRL bye week full of confidence after back-to-back thrashings lifted them into the competition's top five.

The Titans will enjoy a week's rest after backing up their 42-4 flogging of Parramatta last week with a 31-12 hiding of an undermanned North Queensland outfit at Skilled Park on Sunday.

Playing a Cowboys outfit shorn of six first-team regulars, the Titans made light of their own State of Origin-enforced absences to run out five-tries-to-three victors against a struggling opposition.

After an ill-disciplined derby loss to Brisbane in round 10, coach John Cartwright said he couldn't fault his team's response to that 32-6 defeat, especially after being on the receiving end of 15-8 penalty count in the Cowboys favour on Sunday.

"It was a very emotional week that week and a bit of it spilled over into the game and, yeah, we didn't respond that well," Cartwright said of the Broncos loss.

"The sign of a good side is how you come out of it. I think we had 17 penalties against us today, which must be some sort of record and there was nothing for back-chatting - they just kept turning up to do their job."

With co-captains Nate Myles and Greg Bird on Origin duty, as well as key back-rower Ashley Harrison, it was stand-in skipper William Zillman and forwards Dave Taylor and Luke Bailey who stood up to the plate for the Titans on Sunday.

Zillman was simply outstanding at fullback, scoring two tries, setting up another and recording a game-high four line breaks.

Veteran Bailey ploughed through 75 minutes while Taylor overcame a calf injury concern to put in what Cartwright described as his best performance for the Titans.

It was a different story for the out-of-form Cowboys, who have lost four straight and desperately missed representative stars Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, James Tamou and Brent Tate as well as injured duo Matt Bowen and Gavin Cooper.

Under pressure coach Neil Henry said it was his team's poor start, where they messed up their first three clearing kicks and were trailing 12-0 inside 10 minutes, that had sealed their fate.

"Overall, it's a poor performance from our squad," Henry said.

"We've got enough experience out there, even with our young guys, to be better than that.

"It's a disappointing day for the boys and the club regardless of who's out."

The Titans will make the most of the bye to allow centre Brad Takairangi and forward Ryan James to recover from head knocks while Jamie Dowling will also have an ankle injury assessed and Mark Minichiello is on report for a late high tackle.

The Cowboys host Canterbury next Saturday. Source: NRL.COM