Manly continued their unbeaten start to the NRL season with a 20-6 victory over Gold Coast at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.
The Sea Eagles won their sixth successive game to start 2007 with a three-tries-to-one victory over the Titans, but it was hardly Manly's best performance of the year.
Aside from two Brett Stewart tries in the opening five minutes, and a masterstroke by returning Manly captain Matt Orford ahead of half time, the Titans dominated the contest.
It was only through the Sea Eagles' competition-leading defence that they managed to escape with the two competition points.
Manly led 18-0 at halftime but that lead quickly eroded when Mat Rogers put Matt Hilder over in the 45th minute.
The Titans appeared to be mounting a comeback late in the game until prop Brad Meyers was softly penalised by referee Tony Archer for a late hit on Travis Burns after a kick.
Jamie Lyon slotted his penalty from 15m out directly in front of the posts for an unassailable 20-6 lead with seven minutes left on the clock.
It was an unfortunate end for the Titans who had been gathering momentum against Manly but struggled to break through the best defensive line in the NRL.
Manly have now conceded just eight tries in their opening six games.
The Sea Eagles were boosted by the return of skipper Orford playing his first game since round one when he injured his ankle.
With his first touch he grubbered behind the line for Brett Stewart to score in the second minute.
Stewart then scored after a 60m play set up by his older brother Glenn and included centre Steve Bell and winger Chris Hicks.
Stewart's two tries in the opening five minutes - taking his record at Brookvale to 33 tries from his last 33 games - gave the Sea Eagles a 12-0 lead and a carve up looked to be on the menu.
However, the Titans rallied, dominating possession and field position to constantly threaten the Manly line.
But, as has been the case all season, the thin maroon line stood tall repelling wave after wave of Gold Coast attack.
When Manly finally got some possession in the Titans half, Orford spotted fullback Preston Campbell in the defensive line and kicked on the second tackle from the halfway line, allowing winger Chris Hicks to sprint free and score for a 18-0 halftime lead.
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