Hayne shows he'll boost the Titans' title hopes

Hayne took just two minutes to show his stuff.

HE'S BACK: Jarryd Hayne gave more than 25,000 fans a display of what is to come in his first NRL game in more than 700 days. Picture: DAN PELED

JARRYD Hayne took just two minutes to show why he will be a star of the game again despite his new club, Gold Coast, going down 24-14 to the Warriors in his return to the NRL.

The Warriors had too much firepower in the second half for the Titans, clearly fatigued by their tough 18-all draw with Cronulla last Monday.

The biggest crowd of the season, pushing 25,000, packed into Cbus Stadium to see Hayne play his first game of rugby league in more than 700 days.

The former Parramatta superstar, who cracked the NFL's San Francisco 49ers last year, showed glimpses of the brilliance that helped him share the Dally M Player of the Year with Johnathan Thurston in 2014.

A minute after entering the game in the No.21 jumper he stopped a try-bound Bodene Thompson in his tracks with a ball-and-all tackle one metre from the line.

He then leapt above his rivals, reminding everyone of his incredible athleticism, to take a bomb and off-load as the Titans threatened to score.

Early in the second half his vision and speed almost resulted in him racing 70 metres to score after he got a hand to an intercept but the ball went to ground.

He also came up with a classic tackle on Warriors No.7 Shaun Johnson. His only blemish was throwing an intercept pass to Solamone Kata.

After the game Hayne walked around the ground signing autographs and getting his picture taken with fans.

After three golden-point losses, the Warriors, who play three of their last four games at home, are into the top eight and building to the finals.

THE Leichhardt Oval faithful celebrated like they had won the grand final after the Wests Tigers sprung an old-fashioned Sunday afternoon upset over North Queensland 26-14.

A 77th-minute try to Cowboy utility Ethan Lowe set up a barnstorming finish before Tigers fullback James Tedesco was awarded a controversial but brilliant try with a minute left, triggering wild crowd scenes.

Tedesco beat eight Cowboy defenders in a zigzagging run and got a green light try call from the Bunker after on-field officials had called "no try"

With the Titans losing to the Warriors the win pushed the Tigers into the top eight which could be tentative depending on how the Panthers fare against the Roosters tomorrow night.

Originally published as Hayne shows he'll boost the Titans' title hopes