Gold Coast have survived some nervous moments to book an NRLW finals berth in their debut season, thanks to a 14-10 defeat of Newcastle.

The Titans needed a win or a loss by less than nine points against the winless Knights at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday to confirm a top-four spot and a potential semi-final against three-time defending champions Brisbane, who they upset last weekend.

But, trailing 6-0 with 30 minutes to play and their attacks repeatedly snuffed out, the Titans looked out of answers.

Captain Brittany Breayley-Nati delivered though, her short grubber kick popping up for Jessika Elliston’s crucial try.

Winger Hailee-Jay Maunsell then flirted with the touchline to score minutes later, only for Knights winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo to respond immediately.

Gold Coast had the final say, Karina Brown crossing as the Knights’ defence was finally spread too thin. 

Newcastle opened the scoring through Paige Parker, Maunsell watching a horror bounce go over her head and into Parker’s path in the fourth minute.

The Titans would have been staring down a 12-0 scoreline if not for April Ngatupuna.

The forward chased tremendously to pull down a rampaging Phoebe Desmond just short of the line, after the Knights’ prop had broken the line and charged from 45m out.

The result pushed the Titans ahead of Parramatta into third, with the Eels still to play second-placed Brisbane later on Sunday to complete the make-up of the top four.

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