Gold Coast Titans five-eighth Jayden Campbell is eyeing this week’s match against the Bulldogs as a chance to show his side has turned a corner in their journey of improvement.
After snatching a dramatic one-point win against the Panthers last round in the final minute, the Titans now boast wins over the 2024 title holders Penrith and 2025 premiers Brisbane in their past three matches.
While pleased with their achievement, Campbell wanted to see fewer ‘one-off’ upsets and more consistency, urging his side ‘start stacking wins’.
This week against the Bulldogs, they will be chasing their first back-to-back wins since Round 3 and Round 4 last year.
“This time of the year, any win that we get now is very important for us, so, hopefully we can keep stacking wins and keep getting more,” Campbell told NRL.com.
“We've got a big run of home games, so being at home's going to help us a lot, but we've just got to keep winning games and hopefully, keep pushing towards finals.
“I think it's seven out of the last 10 that we've got at home … we've been away from home a fair bit at the start of the year, so the back end of the year is going to be really big for us.
“Over the last few weeks, we're starting to play our football, so we've just got to keep putting in, keep doing that, keep going to training and keep preparing well and hopefully keep winning games.”
Recently appointed as a co-captain to join Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, prop Moe Fotuaika also highlighted the importance of following up on strong performances, but was pleased with how their commitment in defence earnt the win against the Panthers. So far this year, the Titans have improved their defensive ranking from 17th in 2025 to ninth in 2026.
“That's something that we want to identify with, as being a gritty side,” Fotuaika said.
“Even when things are not going well for us, we want to turn up for each other and it's just great that we got to show it with our actions (against Penrith).
“We've been doing it at training too, so, that win is a good reward for the boys' efforts.
“Any win that you get is very special and for us, I feel like we've been building very well this year and it just hasn't been showing in our results.
“But I feel like every game we've been close and thereabouts and just haven't been able to close the game out and that comes with experience.
“(Against Penrith) was a great testament to that and we've seen our young fellas Zano (Zane Harrison) and Keano (Kini) and the spine stepping up, so I'm very proud of the boys' efforts.”
Campbell owning the contact battle
Key to their improvement this year has been the influx of youth and enthusiasm, with coach Josh Hannay backing his new blood to perform.
In the spine, players like hooker Oliver Pascoe and halfback Zane Harrison - who kicked the winning field goal last week – have been trusted to play their role alongside star fullback Keano Kini and Campbell, who looks to have found his home in the six jersey.
“(Last win was) just a bit of a taste of what Zane can do,” Campbell said.
“I can't give him enough praise, he's made my job and the whole team's job so much easier.
“He's just going to be so, so good for us in the coming years and really can't wait to keep working on our combination.”
Match: Titans v Bulldogs
Round 17 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
12th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
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