A late try to livewire fullback Preston Campbell guided the Gold Coast Titans to their first-ever victory in the NRL - a thrilling 18-16 triumph over Cronulla at Carrara.

Both teams scored three tries apiece but Campbell's 75th minute conversion of his own try proved the difference in front of 17,946 ecstatic fans.

Titans co-captain Scott Prince - in doubt during the week with an ankle injury - threw an inside ball for the final try to Campbell, who started to lose control over the line before somehow wedging the pill between his elbow and side.

Video referee Tim Mander gave the green light and Campbell added the extras to give the home side an 18-16 lead and set up a pulsating finish.

The victory gives Titans coach John Cartwright bragging rights over his former boss at the Sydney Roosters - Cronulla and Kangaroos mentor Ricky Stuart.

The crowd was silenced just two minutes into the match when some poor judgment from Campbell led to back-rower Reece Williams' first try of a memorable night.

Campbell was praying for an Adam Dykes kick to go over the sideline and didn't make a play at the ball, allowing Sharks winger Luke Covell to twice toe it ahead for back-rower Reece Williams to score the first of his two tries.

Cronulla conceded their first points of the 2007 season in the 17th minute when Matt Petersen, the replacement for injured winger Chris Walker (broken thumb), scored in the right corner following some quick hands across the backline.

A superb sideline conversion from Campbell levelled the scores at 6-all.

Sharks winger Fraser Anderson touched down 20 seconds before the break to hand his team a 10-6 halftime lead and then set up Williams for his second try in the 50th minute.

Anderson turned four Titans defenders inside out on a run downfield before passing to Williams to score under the posts as the Sharks snatched a 16-6 lead.

Just six minutes later Gold Coast five-eighth Matt Hilder put forward Mark Minichiello into a hole to help engineer the team's second try, which Campbell converted to narrow the deficit to 16-12.

Campbell's heroics ensured the Titans faithful would go to work on Tuesday with smiles on their faces and boost the players' confidence heading into their clash with the Bulldogs on Sunday in Sydney.

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