Downcast Gold Coast captain Scott Prince has held himself personally responsible after the dead-last Titans lost their fourth straight NRL game.

A team that was one win away from making the 2010 grand final found itself in one of its worst slumps after their 23-10 loss to Penrith on Saturday night.

An error-riddled Titans only had themselves to blame for yet another defeat - but Prince put his hand up for their season from hell.

"I guess I have to take responsibility as captain - I am not leading by example," he said.

"The coaching staff can't do any more.

"It comes down to the fundamentals in the end.

"And with fundamental errors you can't enjoy football and you can't win football games."

But there was still a hint of defiance in the former Test halfback.

"There are 17 blokes in there hurting at the moment," he said.

"But the one thing I know is that we are going to work hard at training, hang together and we will turn it around - we have to."

The Titans began their Skilled Park clash with confidence - winger David Mead scored off a Prince kick in the first five minutes.

The Gold Coast would claim that as a victory in itself after being denied eight tries the previous week before finally crossing in the final five minutes against the Bulldogs.

But their good fortune was short-lived on Saturday night.

The tone for the rest of the night was set when Prince's clearing kick somehow ricocheted off Trent Waterhouse and the Panthers backrower regathered to let a flying Michael Jennings loose in the 14th minute.

Still, the Titans locked up the scores 10-10 thanks to a Preston Campbell solo try in the 43rd minute but basic errors ensured they could not apply any more pressure.

"We realise we are not going to win a game pretty," Titans coach John Cartwright said.

"You don't come out of losing a few games and everything is going to click for you.

"You've got to grit your teeth and work hard,do all the tough things.

"We didn't give ourselves that chance in the second half."

Prince added: "Confidence comes from working hard.

"It is going to take a gritty performance to get us out of the situation we are in at the moment."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP