Representative jerseys and local bragging rights go on the line tonight when the Gold Coast Titans travel north to take on the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEST.
It’s second versus second-last but ladder position goes out the window for the south Queensland derby, particularly tonight with State of Origin on the horizon and at least a dozen players under the eye of selectors.
In what shapes as a fearsome battle for the ruck Greg Bird and Luke Douglas will have the attention of New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart as they clash head-on with Maroons blue-chippers Ben Hannant, Sam Thaiday and Petero Civoniceva.
The star-studded Broncos cruise into the match on a five-match winning streak which has them chasing the Strom at the top of the ladder, while baby brother sits second-last, buoyed only by a last-start upset win over Manly at Brookvale.
Looking like thoroughbreds, the Broncos have firmed into second favourite for the 2012 premiership after starting the season 6-1, but have beaten only one genuine contender in St George-Illawarra.
The Titans (2-5) are for from a genuine contender at this stage of the season but can lay some claim to a return to form after drafting in genuine five-eighth Aiden Sezer and taking down the Sea Eagles 26-14 at their last start.
Brisbane have maintained the upper-hand over the Titans ever since baby brother caused a boil-over in their maiden clash at Suncorp in 2007. The Broncos are five-from-five when hosting the Titans since, and lead the overall match-up 8-3.
The Titans haven’t won the derby since round 20, 2009.
Broncos general Peter Wallace returns from a groin injury to further claims for his first sky-blue jersey since 2009, while Titan Jamal Idris is expected to be fit for an NRL center’s biggest challenge – Justin Hodges.
Prediction
The Titans’ big boys need to take a stand in the middle of the park in order to get Sezer and Scott Prince in a position where they can unleash their speed merchant wingers.
Luke Bailey, Nate Myles, Douglas and Bird are more than capable of matching it with Brisbane’s engine but with the interchange playing a crucial part in matches forward packs need to be nine-deep.
When the initial sting goes out of the contest Brisbane will call on young bucks Matt Gillett and Josh McGuire to sustain the assault; both men have Maroon on their mind – you can see it in every run.
Meanwhile, The Titans bench looks less imposing with the likes of Michael Henderson, Mark Minichiello and Matthew White as back-up.
Also, the suspension of Ashley Harrison robs the Titans of the glue that holds their pack together, leaving cracks for Brisbane to expose towards the end of each half. Hooker Andrew McCullough and fullback Josh Hoffman will be licking their lips.
The Gold Coast has the personnel to cause an upset tonight, but against an on-fire Hoffman, Hodges, Corey Norman, Thaiday, Gillett and Hannant, will need 17 players at 100 percent for 80 minutes just to stand a chance.
Broncos by 8.
Will the stampeding Broncos make it six in a row? Or will the Titans put wins back-to-back for the first time in 2012? Join us to follow the south Queensland derby from 7.30pm AEST. Follow the play and add your thoughts below.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Full-time: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 IIt looks a comfortable win on the scoreboard, and it was, but the Broncos really had to work hard to maintain their grip on the match in the second forty. To the Titans' credit they came hard after half-time, but even more credible was Brisbane's resolute defence which was only properly breached once. John Cartwright will be wondering what may have been, had his men applied themselves for 80 as they did for 40. Anthony Griffin probably wont take a lot from the match, aside from the second efforts from his men when the Titans were surging. Peter Wallace gave the right flank of David Mead and Dom Peyroux hell throughout the match with his kicking game, and it was the early points that Brisbane took from that battle that set up the win. Thaiday, Hannant, Petero and Hodges were already lock-ins for Origin and remain inb that category. Corey Parker certainly furthered his cause with a strong performance at the back of the scrum, and bench tyro Matt Gillett went a step closer to the utility bench spot with another ruthless display of raw speed and aggression. For the Titans' Origin hopefuls: Greg Bird was hot and cold but will be there for game one as a favourite of Ricky Stuart; Luke Douglas continued his solid form, and Nate Myles displayed exactly the traits that give him a mortgage on a Maroon jumper - tenacity and toughness. So the Broncos march on to six straight, while the Titans go back to another long week of training as losers.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 80min - Myles makes a break through the middle and surges downfield before being dragged down just short of the line. Gold Coast are awarded a penalty with seonds on the clock but Srama's bomb is easily defused.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 79min - Hunt puts a galloping Thaiday away with the captain sending Hodges over, only to be called back for a forward pass.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 77min - Plenty of fire left in Glenn. The back-rower flies of of the line to belt Zillman and force the ball free. He's probably the man of the match, Glenn. Fantastic game from the Kiwi wiuth Hannant not far behind.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 76min - Prince and Wallace both off the field. Prince has ice on his left forearm; with Wallace returning from injury coach Griffin has given Ben Hunt a run.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 74min - Titans denied a try by the video ref when Douglas pounces on a loose ball which came off a team-mate in the Brisbane in goal. Douglas has had a dig tonight. Nothing flash, nothing eye-cathing, but did his job.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 73min - Titans still toiling but all hope is lost here. Glenn, Norman and Hoffman are just in a hot streak of form with all the luck going their way. Glenn has been outstanding tonight. It's a plethora of quality forwards that Brisbane have.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 26 – GOLD COAST 6 70min - BRISBANE TRY One of the most unconventional you will ever see. Hodges puts Glenn into a hole insode their own half before the second rower dribbles a pass out the back for Norman who puts his boot to the ball twice before tapping on a ball for Hoffman who scores. Pretty? No. A try? yes! PARKER CONVERTS
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 68min - Brisbane get back-to-back sets thanks to a penalty but the Titans suffocate the home side's attack, turning them back inside time and again. Gold Coast really need to put some points on the board here.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 65min - Hodges gets one up on Idris o the ither side of the field, forcing the bohemoth into touch early in the count. That battle is yet to really erupt - Hodges hasn't seen much quality ball, nor has his opposite.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 63min - Peyroux gets another point in his battle with Reed, showing the English centre the sideline and then forcing him over it to take possession. Titans dominating the second half but now need to capitalise.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 63min - It's game on here. Bird is tucking it under his arm and running strong, Srama is directing play, and the Titans look dangerous.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 61min - Bodene Thompson hits Hoffman with a lazy swinging arm that looks nasty and goes on report. Thompson blows up when Parker comes in to separate but the tension fizzles.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 60MIN - Titans muscle up and force Wallace to clear from his own 25. Bailey and Minichiello turning the screws.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 58min - Hodges causes concern stepping and slipping in the wet before going down but gets up to p[lay on. Bird back for the Titans and straight into it with a strong charge. Minichiello has really added something since coming off the bench.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 56min - Touch judge makes a blunder when Dale Copley taken into touch by Kevin Gordon inside Brisbane's 10. Brisbane need to inject Hannant back into this game to tighten things up.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 54min - Gold Coast pours into Brisbane half with Srama sharp out of dummy-half. The tide looks to be turning with possession. The Broncos need to regather quickly because Titans are feeling good all of a sudden.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 6 53min - PRINCE CONVERTS a tough one from out wide in teaming rain. David Mead put Titans on front foot for that try. Nice for him and Peyroux after being heavily targeted in the first 40.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 4 TRY TITANS Prince gets the ball inside Brisbane's 20, drifts accross field, dummies inside, and then finds Peyroux who tramples Reed and then shrugs off Hoffman to score and gain some rdemption after a torrid first half.
Matt Blomberg
Roar Rookie
Live score: BRISBANE 20 – GOLD COAST 0 49min - Zillman lets a Wallace skyscraper bounce, Mead picks up and scrambles 50 metres downfield beating a host of defenders.