Inspired by five-eighth Ash Taylor, Gold Coast have moved into the NRL top eight with a comprehensive 34-6 defeat of last-placed Canterbury.
The Titans backed up from their victory over St George Illawarra last weekend to move into the finals places for the first time since round 11 and put their hope of ending a five-year wait for playoffs in their hands.
Taylor, who remains off-contract at season's end, turned in arguably his best performance of 2021 at an empty Suncorp Stadium in a clash rescheduled due to southeast Queensland's COVID lockdown.
The 26-year-old scored one, set up another and had a dominant kicking game including a first-half 40-20 as the Titans claimed their biggest win over the Bulldogs.
Adding to Canterbury's misery, Jack Hetherington was placed on report late in the second-half for a high shot.
The Titans opened the scoring when Queensland State of Origin representative Tino Fa'asuamaleaui crashed over from dummy-half in the 13th minute.
The Bulldogs battled hard but were guilty of several crucial errors when in possession and they were made to pay for that profligacy when the Titans scored two quickfire tries just before halftime.
Centres Esan Marsters and Brian Kelly both found the line in a three-minute burst which ensured the Titans went in at halftime holding a 16-0 lead.
Both teams made a slow start to the second half but it was Titans' winger Greg Marzhew who extended Gold Coast's lead in the 51st minute when he pounced on another Bulldogs error to sprint through a broken defensive line.
Taylor then supported AJ Brimson after sending the Titans fullback clear to finish off a move to get on the scoreboard himself.
Kelly completed a double late in the match when he was found brilliantly by Jarrod Wallace as the Titans romped to their biggest-ever win over the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs avoided the ignominy of being held scoreless for the fifth time this season when Bailey Biondi-Odo burrowed over in the 73rd minute.
Gold Coast will look to consolidate their position in the eight when they take on struggling North Queensland next weekend.
