The Gold Coast Titans are convinced they have their best shot at securing a maiden NRLW crown after beating bogey team Newcastle 32-20 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
In extending their club-record winning streak to 10, and winning in Newcastle for the first time, the Titans snapped a six-game losing skid to the Knights that stretched back to March 2022.
That sequence included being eliminated by the Knights in the first week of the finals last year, and being beaten 24-18 in the 2023 NRLW grand final.
Before heading south to Newcastle, the Titans had already secured second spot – their highest-ever regular-season finish since joining the NRLW in 2021 – and a week off before hosting a preliminary final.
But Titans coach Karyn Murphy acknowledged their first win at McDonald Jones Stadium tasted sweet and ensured they maintained momentum heading into the finals.
"It was nice to get that one," Murphy said.
Knights v Titans - Round 11, 2026
"We haven't had a win against Newcastle down here before, so that's really special for us as a team and us as a club, to get that monkey off the back.
"We knew they'd be tough. They've been building nicely themselves over the last few rounds leading into finals, with plenty to play for, so it was a really good game for us to have leading into finals as well.
"We wanted to keep our own momentum going as well, regardless of where we finish and the week off. I think it was even more important for that reason.
"We didn't want to sit on a bad performance or a loss down here. Momentum's everything, particularly going into finals, so we wanted to keep that going."
Phoenix-Raine Hippi Try
The Titans led 20-10 at half-time and 20-16 after Fane Finau scored for Newcastle in the 43rd minute, but broke the game open with three tries in six minutes to take a commanding 32-16 lead midway through the second half.
"Perhaps we were a little bit flat in patches today and not where we quite wanted to be but really nice to get the win, and plenty to work with going into the next game in a couple of weeks," Murphy said.
Since a 34-10 opening-round loss to the unbeaten Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium, the Titans have swept all before them.
Only the Roosters have performed more consistently during the regular season, and captain Georgia Hale said they had earned their top-two finish and were entitled to feel confident while preparing for their preliminary final opponents.
"It's a nice feeling. I think on reflection, it's I guess down to all the work that's been done across the season," Hale said.
"Thinking back to pre-season, we got through a ton of work there, then working through the rounds, I feel like we've been building.
Teagan Levi Try
"We haven't been perfect, we're far from it really, but piecing together the puzzle that we're trying to create... I think that's been nice, that momentum, and now turning the corner into the final series.
"It's been really nice over the course of the season [being] focused week to week, but just looking at our strength across the pitch, the back five that get us out of trouble, forwards that are physical and keep us going forward, and the spine with craft and flair and pace."
The Titans lost prop Jess Elliston to a season-ending knee injury against the Roosters in July, and outside back Phoenix-Raine Hippi will have scans on a shoulder injury suffered against Newcastle, but Murphy has an otherwise healthy squad to pick from for the finals.
"In a season, particularly the length of season we have, it's really key to keep a consistent team on the paddock and things can go your way during the season," Murphy said.
NRLW Round Up – Round 11, 2026
"Since round one it has, like 'G' (Hale) touched on, it's been a real focus to build each week and improve our game, and credit to our high-performance staff we have as well.
"It's nice to keep going at this time of year but it will be something different for us to have that week off, so we'll have to manage that.
"I guess we'll work on ourselves this week, then when we know who we're playing after next weekend, we can turn our mind to that, so that's probably how we'll tackle the next couple of weeks."
