David Fifita came back to haunt his former club in a man-of-the-match display to inspire the Gold Coast to an upset 18-12 NRL win over Brisbane.
The Titans back-rower scored a try and set one up either side of halftime in a Sunday afternoon thriller in front of 42,249 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
With former head coach Justin Holbrook sacked on Thursday, there was always going to be a question mark over how the players would respond with interim coach Jimmy Lenihan at the helm.
Without inspirational captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, rested after his State of Origin heroics for Queensland, the Titans were superb.
"I thought the boys' effort was really good today," Lenihan said.
"It was a really hard week, a shock certainly (when Holbrook was sacked).
"It was late in the week too, on a Thursday, so for the boys to process it, go through it and then turn up and put in a good effort like that is really pleasing."
The Broncos had all four of their Origin players on deck but they were well off the pace.
"I'm really disappointed," Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.
"Today, was just not who we are as a club. It's just attitude. We need to fix it and fix it in a hurry.
"I'm angry for the 40,000 people that came here today."
Gold Coast took it to the Broncos for the majority of the first half but the hosts scrambled well despite struggling to find their groove in attack.
Pat Carrigan took it upon himself to get the Broncos on the board with a slick pass before the line, sending rampaging Tom Flegler over in the 28th minute.
The Titans levelled it up on the cusp of the break with a Fifita classic.
No.6 Kieran Foran held it up perfectly to put a barnstorming Fifita into a hole.
A controversial moment occurred in the lead-up to the try when Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh was ruled to have played at a kick by Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
Walsh insisted he hadn't but the Titans were given another set and Fifita scored.
Fifita, also backing up from Maroons duty, started the second stanza on fire.
He powered his way through the Broncos defence off another Foran pass to send Brian Kelly over in the corner.
Khan-Pereira, one of the fastest players in the game, burned opposite number Selwyn Cobbo to race away and give the Titans a 16-6 lead.
The Broncos and Titans had tries disallowed to Brendan Piakura and Aaron Schoupp respectively after bombs.
Walsh was also denied after an obstruction.
Broncos No.6 Ezra Mam danced through four defenders to score in the 61st minute and a thrilling finish loomed.
Cobbo was penalised for a shepherd and Boyd landed the penalty goal as the Titans held on to their 18-12 lead with grit.
