A week out from the finals and with so much to play for, the Knights were reduced to a rabble by a rampant Titans side on the Gold Coast last night.

The 36-6 thrashing equaled their biggest loss of the season but given what was at stake, it was easily their worst performance.

The side now faces a week of soul-searching to prepare for finals opponents South Sydney in Sydney after blowing their opportunity to secure the elimination semifinal in Newcastle.

Adding to the Knights' woes, prop Jacob Saifiti is in danger of facing a suspension and being ruled out after being put on report for a crusher tackle while there were also suggestions a Knights forward was involved in an alleged racial slur involving Tyrone Peachey.

Disappointed Knights coach Adam O'Brien said the woeful performance was "not ideal" heading into the finals and claimed his side's attack resembled Under 8's standard at times. But he won't be dwelling on what was a woeful night at the office.

"We need to move on from that really quickly because that performance and me carrying on about it is not going to help us next week," he said.

"We have to find a way to bounce into the joint next week and come in with a real plan to make the most of our season next week."

Asked was it a wake-up call for his players, O'Brien said: "It's an alarm that I've heard a few times this season."

O'Brien believes Saifiti will be desperately unlucky to miss the South Sydney game if he is suspended.

"He was coming off the line and all of a sudden they fall at your feet," O'Brien said.

"The guys can't disappear and it's massive to potentially miss out on a semifinal for something that he literally cannot disappear from.

"Look, hopefully, he is going to be okay there."

The Knights were in trouble by halftime after an error-riddled first 40 minutes saw them trail 16-6 at the break.

They had very little early possession with the penalty count 5-1 against them at one stage with the Titans looking far more dangerous with the footy.

Titans five-eighth Ash Taylor gave his side the perfect start when he finished off a movement he started, catching the Knights right edge defence napping to cross for a converted try after just three minutes. It was a sign of things to come.

Taylor ended up scoring a double while fullback AJ Brimson crossed twice in the second half as the Titans racked up 20 unanswered points in the final 40 minutes to complete an embarrassing rout.

They ended up scoring seven tries with two of them near length of the field efforts against a tired Knights defence.

Tellingly, Newcastle finished the game with 36 missed tackles with skipper Mitchell Pearce coming up with eight of them. Pearce was heavily targeted by the Titans attack, having to make 33 tackles.

O'Brien faces a monumental task to repair the shattered confidence of his side in the space of a week.