Mato calls on return of Titans' DNA to lasso Cowboys

The Gold Coast's 'junkyard dog' mentality will be in full force against North Queensland this Saturday in order to rebound from their disappointing showing against the Broncos last weekend.

Having leaked 44 points in the uncharacteristic performance against their M1 rivals, experienced prop Shannon Mato has called on her group to return to the attitude that got them to last year's grand final when up against fellow Queensland rivals the Cowboys, especially only having averaged two tries a game in their previous season.

"Defensively, we just didn’t show up on the day, but that’s what we’re going to go through this week and polish up," she said.

"Our DNA is defence and JYD… being that junkyard dog, so we’ll definitely be aiming to fix those little areas.

"We’ve got to accept that what happened on the weekend wasn’t okay, but we’ll have that to fuel us into our next game."

Whilst unable to stop Mele Hufanga, who notched up her second four-try haul for the opposition, captain Georgia Hale was unsurprisingly again a shining light in defence.

Making a record 61 tackles - the most for any player in a NRLW game - at an incredible 96 percent efficiency, the Queensland and Jillaroos prop isn't surprised at her skipper's performance, inspired to lift and bounce back after Hale's continued efforts.

"You can always expect a lot from Gee and she won’t let her players down," Mato said.

"I think that’s why she’s our skipper. She always leads from the front and that gives us confidence.

"We need to support her better... I think we've let her down in that sense, but I know she'd turn back to us and say she's got our back everyday of the week and she'd rather play with no other team but us.

"We just need to give the same energy back."