![Key Three: Moe-mentum swings and Kini keeps on](/contentassets/9f21db2bc7014827995f6b965b1806f1/75509509_kellyb-_240721-gp02287_2024721162332.jpg?center=0.23%2C0.45&preset=hero-primary-wide)
The Gold Coast Titans have fallen to the Manly Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park in Brookvale 38 to 8 earlier today.
After a strong opening stanza, where the Titans led 8-0, the Titans fell away as the Sea Eagles dominated possession and the game from that point.
Here are the key three talking points from the game.
Middle Moe-mentum
He might have been backing up after one of the most torrid State of Origin games in history, but that didn't stop Titans forward leader and Queensland Maroon, Moeaki Fotuaika, from leading his side through the middle of the field.
It was no surprise that the Titans played their best football when Fotuaika and fellow starting prop, Erin Clark, were on the field.
During the pair's break through the middle of the game the Titans didn't have the same punch through the heart of the Manly pack and saw Manly dominate the game from the point the starting front rowers left the field.
With long-term injuries to fellow middle forwards in Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Jaimin Jolliffe, Clark and Fotuaika have had to step up in their absence and were shining lights in an otherwise tough day out for the Titans.
Clark finished the game with 40 minutes, 129 run metres (49 post-contact) and 18 tackles, while Fotuaika had 46 minutes, 90 run metres, 2 offloads and 17 tackles in a big effort backing up from Origin.
Kini more than capable
Keano Kini's strong run of form continued against the Manly Sea Eagles as the young fullback found himself heavily involved yet again.
With AJ Brimson and the Titans taking a cautious approach with his return from injury it allowed Kini another game as the side's starting fullback and he grabbed the chance with both hands once again.
Kini took 22 runs for 263 metres, a line break and five tackles breaks in what is fast becoming his standard performance in the NRL.
It is unclear whether Brimson will be back next week, but one thing that Des Hasler can be confident in is that he has a more than capable deputy in Kini.
Lofi Khan-t stop scoring
He is fast becoming a bookmakers nightmare, as Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored the first try yet again today.
The Titans speedster is the NRL's leading try scorer with 17, one clear of the Brisbane Broncos Deine Mariner, and has now scored 27 tries in his 37 NRL appearances since debuting in 2023.
While his side didn't get the points today, Khan-Pereira's strong try-scoring form continued.
The Titans take on the Dolphins in the Sunshine Showdown next Sunday at Suncorp Stadium with both sides looking to bounce back from defeats this weekend.