A dismal showing by the NZ Warriors as they reverted back to their worst, starting well, but then falling to the previous winless Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart.
The first 10 minutes looked good as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad capitalised went through from 10 metres out and Shaun Johnson converted.
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A few minutes later Addin Fonua-Blake powered through Kieran Foran from close range for his third try of the season and the Warriors had raced to a 12-0 advantage.
And then it went backwards for the home side.
The Titans hit back with a long range try in the 14th minute with Kelly putting Alofiana Khan-Pereira into space, the wing making plenty of ground before turning a pass inside for AJ Brimson to race away and score.
The Titans then scored again after a Warriors forward pass with Tanah Boyd, showing fancy footwork to cross and convert his own try for 12-12.
The scoring continued as David Fifita took an inside pass from Chris Randall and carried two defenders over the line to make it 18-12 to the Des Hassler coached side.
A spilled bomb by Marcelo Montoya deep in his own territory handed Boyd a chance to slot a field goal to stretch the lead to seven points at the break.
Oly three minutes after half-time the Titans went further ahead when Kelly put a move on Rocco Berry and then sent a superb flick pass for Alofianna Khan-Pereira to cross in the left hand corner.
Trailing 23-12 the Warriors looked to have hit back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck pulled down a Johnson bomb to score but replays showed Wayde Egan had knocked on at dummy half and the bunker cancelled the try out.
The Titans marched down field and Fifita produced a quality offload to send Brimson over for his second try of the day in the 55th minute and Gold Coast were closing in on a drought-breaking victory at 27-12.
The Warriors were desperate for a response Fonua-Blake took a pass from Dylan Walker and powered over under the sticks and the Warriors were back within nine points.
Six minutes later the Warriors crossed again when Berry followed through a Johnson bomb and came up with a great catch to score. Johnson's conversion made it 27-24.
Johnson continued to test the Titans' back three with high kicks but the visitors dug deep for three consecutive sets to keep their tryline intact.
With four minutes to play, Johnson turned to the grubber kick and forced a line dropout, before Kelly came up with a huge play to defuse a bomb in the 78th minute and the Titans clung on for a morale-boosting victory.
The Warriors next game is away at the Newcastle Knights on Sunday week.
Gold Coast Titans 27 (AJ Brimson 2 tries Tanah Boyd, David Fifita, Alofiana Khan-Pereira tries; Boyd 3 con, goal) NZ Warriors 24 (Addin Fonua-Blake 2, Charnze Nicol-Klokstad, Rocco Berry tries; Shaun Johnson 4 con). HT: 19-12