Missing their number one playmaker in Ashley Taylor is no excuse for the Titans' 20-8 loss to the New Zealand Warriors, according to head coach Garth Brennan.
For the first time since 2009, the Kiwi club find themselves two from two to start an NRL season.
It wasn't as polished a performance as last week, but nobody can deny the Warriors' intent on attack.
They ran in four tries to one and dominated the Titans with second-phase football in particular.
Led by new recruit Adam Blair, the Warriors notched an incredible 24 offloads to the Titans' nine - something Brennan said was ultimately the difference.
"Ash was missed but that's no excuse," Brennan said.
"I thought Bryce [Cartwright] and Kane [Elgey] played well and they were just the better side today.
"I thought we scrambled pretty well but against a Warriors side who are on like they were today, it's tough.
"When they start throwing it around like they did and it sticks they are very hard to defend and they have some class there in Shaun Johnson and (Roger) Tuivasa-Sheck off the back of that.
"I watched them last weekend and I said I thought that was probably the best 80 performance I have seen from a Warriors side in my time of being a footy fan and they backed that up again today."
Match: Warriors v Titans
Round 2 -
home Team
Warriors
2nd Position
away Team
Titans
10th Position
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Captain Ryan James said the second phase football took its toll on his players who struggled to lock up the ball on defence.
"As soon as they started to offload the second phase just killed us, we were having to work twice as hard. Once you're making seven or eight tackles in a set it starts to wear you out," he said.
James also credited the Warriors composure on attack and pointed to another of the club's new signings.
"I think Blake Green adds a different dynamic to their team. I think he adds a level of control. He's probably one of the better buys they have had as a club in a longtime."
After the high of their come-from-behind win last week, James insisted his side weren't going to hang their heads on Saturday's result.
"Obviously today was disappointing but for us it's just a timing and execution issue," he said.
"We know we can get across the line, and we did that today but were obviously denied, once we get our timing down we'll be a pretty good footy side."
