Jarryd Hayne error in Gold Coast Titans v Warriors

Jarryd Hayne endured a horror moment on his NRL return as Gold Coast Titans suffered a 24-14 defeat to top-eight rivals New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Stadium.

After spells in the NFL and rugby sevens, Hayne's return to rugby league after a two-year absence included a moment to forget as his stray pass contributed to a disheartening defeat.

There was nothing to separate the two sides as they went into half-time at 10-10, Konrad Hurrell adding to Ryan James' score after David Fusitu'a and Bodene Thompson had gone over for the Warriors.

Simon Mannering regained the lead for the visitors before Hayne's no-look pass was intercepted by Fusitu'a, whose charge downfield preceded Solomone Kata crossing the whitewash from the next play.

Seven minutes later Kata nabbed Taylor's errant pass and raced to the line from 85 metres out, showing his strength by fending off Anthony Don in powerful fashion.

Don hit back for the Titans but they slipped down to ninth, with the Warriors moving above them into seventh.

Gold Coast dropping out of the top eight came a result of Wests Tigers' 26-14 triumph over North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.

The Cowboys were boosted by the return of Johnathan Thurston after he missed the 16-8 loss to Melbourne Storm last weekend with a hamstring injury.

However, the Tigers looked set for a comfortable win when they took a 20-8 lead six minutes from time after Mitch Moses converted Sauaso Sue's try.

Ethan Lowe set up a tense finale when he crossed in the closing stages, but James Tedesco powered over the line to secure Wests a third successive victory, though the loss of prop Ben Hannant to a knee injury will be cause for concern.