The Gold Coast Titans took to season 2021 buoyed by their greatest expectations in years, but Justin Holbrook's men have so far failed to deliver.
Despite being tipped by many experts to beat the Warriors in the opening round and even finish in the top eight for the first time since 2016, they've suffered a one-sided 19-6 defeat at Central Coast Stadium.
Trailing 18-0 at half-time, all Gold Coast could muster by the final whistle was a late consolation try through Corey Thompson in the dying stages of the match.
"All the hype about the new signings but the Warriors were just too good for them this afternoon," Penrith Panthers great Greg Alexander said on Fox League's coverage at full-time.
David Fifita and Tino Faasuamaleaui, two of the most dangerous young forwards in the game, were touted as season-changing additions to Holbrook's squad.
But both proved little effect in their first hit-out.
"We didn't capitalise on our opportunities and discipline in the middle, on the edges and defensively we weren't good enough, including myself," Fifita said on Fox League's coverage.
"We'll get better as it comes but it was good to get the cobwebs out."
Alexander added: "The Titans paid for their errors."
"Four errors [this second half]. They've had all the ball, all the field possession but they've made errors at the other end of the field."
Former Storm and Roosters premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk believes the Titans' halves, Ash Taylor and Jamal Fogarty, need to "engage the line" to get the likes of Fifita and Faasuamaleaui into the game.
"They [the Titans] were ineffective in attack," Cronk said.
"I think they had opportunities to score points. The halves went to the line but then they dished it out to a middle forward to create. The halves need to engage the line, get one-on-ones for those sparks on the outside."
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