Manly have swatted away five injury blows and a David Fifita-inspired comeback to beat Gold Coast 26-18 in the NRL, making it two-from-two without Tom Trbojevic.
In front of a packed crowd at Brookvale on Saturday evening, Manly led by 20 points at halftime then looked set to collapse as the Titans ran in three straight tries.
But a late penalty was enough for the Sea Eagles to seal the victory, turning around their poor start to the year to sit comfortably in fifth spot.
The brave Sea Eagles did it despite Reuben Garrick (knee cork), Josh Aloiai (shoulder) both playing through pain while Sean Keppie, Lachlan Croker and Tolu Koula all suffered head knocks.
They have just a five-day turnaround before facing in-form Cronulla, but they will at least get Martin Taupau (neck) and Morgan Harper (COVID) back.
Coach Des Hasler was happy to escape with the two points against the Titans.
And notably they have done it for the past fortnight without Tom Trbojevic.
Once considered the hardest man to replace in rugby league, Manly have now won six of their last seven when without their superstar fullback dating back to last season.
Garrick was again brilliant deputising for Trbojevic, slicing through for a try of his own in the first half.
Kieran Foran also bagged a try late in the first half when the Titans gave up possession from a kick off, while Haumole Olakau'atu was brutal on the right edge.
The second-rower bagged Manly's first try when he ran onto a Daly Cherry-Evans grubberkick, and scored another when he barged his way over.
The Tongan star could easily have had another, held up by AJ Brimson and Jamayne Isaako just two plays before he bagged his second try before leaving the field with cramps.
"The last four weeks he's been really dangerous, and he will only get better," Hasler said.
"We took our foot off the pedal a bit (in the second half).
"But given our injuries and HIA and blokes having to come back out to play wounded, it was a brave effort to get the two points."
While Olakau'atu starred, the Titans' biggest issue remains getting his opposite number Fifita involved more.
Their million-dollar man looked dangerous on every touch, setting up a try in the first half when he pushed off two defenders to put Jamayne Isaako over.
He also scored one of his own in the second half, again bumping off defenders to charge over.
But he only had 11 possessions outside of those, as the Titans went periods of the match without finding their danger man.
Brian Kelly and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui also scored second-half tries to make it a 24-18 game with 14 minutes to play, giving Gold Coast a genuine chance.
But when Fa'asuamaleaui was found to be offside after being caught in the ruck while helping to save a try with five minutes to play, Cherry-Evans was able to kick Manly clear.
"It was similar to last week (against Parramatta)," coach Justin Holbrook said.
"We didn't take any chance in the first half, didn't stop any of theirs. And then chased the game again.
"It doesn't make sense because we burn all our energy and try and find a way in the second half."
