Gold Coast playmaker Ash Taylor says the loss against Canberra in round six sparked a new determined approach to defence.
The Raiders piled 42 points on the Titans, prompting Taylor to refocus on his defensive duties.
"I've been working hard at training. It was a big wake-up call for me, that game, I'm trying to get better week in, week out," he said.
"I stood up in front of the team (after the loss to Canberra) and said that's not me, that's not how I want to be and that's not the person who I want to be."
Since then Taylor has made 46 tackles - including a season-high 23 against Cronulla - and the Emerging Origin halfback understands that teams will be targeting him.
"That's everyone's tactics, to try and go after the smaller guys in the field, we've just got to try and be a big body in the line and do our job for the team," Taylor said.
"We've got to get our bodies in front until our other teammates can come help us, that's what we've been working on at training."
The Titans have begun to replenish their playing stocks with Konrad Hurrell, Kevin Proctor and Jarryd Hayne all returning from injury in the last few weeks.
Victory over Newcastle gave the Titans their first back-to-back wins of the year and Taylor believes the representative round has come at an awkward time.
"We sort of need the bye, to freshen up some sore bodies," Taylor said.
"In saying that we've had a few guys return from injury so it would have been good for them to keep going - for the rest of us it will be good having a rest."
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