Round 18: Titans v Broncos preview
In-form Titans eye off battling Broncos
The Gold Coast Titans will be chasing three straight wins when they take on the Brisbane Broncos at CBUS Super Stadium on Saturday evening.
Dismissed as also-rans before a ball had been kicked this season, the Gold Coast Titans have defied expectations to emerge as one of the competition's biggest improvers.
Sitting in 13th position with a modest record of six wins over the first 17 rounds, the Titans have grown in confidence with each performance - culminating in back-to-back wins for the first time in 2020 after downing the Bulldogs 18-14 last Saturday.
Coming into the match as favourites for only the second time this season, coach Justin Holbrook will be hoping his team can continue a strong record over the Broncos following three wins from their past five meetings.
Forced into changes following ankle injuries to Brian Kelly and Jaimin Jolliffe in last week's win over the Bulldogs, forwards Moeaki Fotuaika, Keegan Hipgrave and Jai Whitbread come into the side, while rookie Beau Fermor shifts into the backline.
Debuting in first grade with the Broncos back in 2012, Queensland representative Jarrod Wallace will line up for his 150th NRL match.
Staring down the prospect of an unwanted piece of history, the Brisbane Broncos will be desperate to finish their year from hell on a high.
Winning just three matches all season to sit in 15th position with the worst attacking and defensive records in the league, a ninth straight loss will see the side condemned to the most consecutive losses in the club's history.
Showing signs of improvement during last Thursday's 25-12 loss to the Panthers, interim coach Peter Gentle will be banking on his team maintaining a strong record at CBUS Super Stadium following wins from their past five visits.
Boosted by the return of captain Alex Glenn for the first time in nine weeks, Joe Ofahengaue and Xavier Coates have been named on the bench in place of suspended duo Jordan Riki and Jamil Hopoate.
Last meeting: Round 7 2020 - Broncos 12 Titans 30
Who to watch: Heading to the Gold Coast in pursuit of an opportunity after impressing in the lower grades at Newcastle, edge forward Beau Fermor has emerged as a player of the future for the Titans. Earmarked for big things after being named the Jersey Flegg Player of the Year in 2018, the 22-year-old Queenslander has averaged 86 metres and 22 tackles per game, while bagging two tries in his rookie season. Set to form a formidable back-row partnership in tandem with David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui next season, Fermor will be out to hold his own in the centres as the Titans look to down the Broncos at CBUS Super Stadium for the first time since 2014.
Facing off against his future club for the first time since penning a three-year deal to head to the Gold Coast back in July, young gun David Fifita will be looking to finish his tenure at the Broncos on a high. Enduring a difficult campaign marred by well-documented contract negotiations and a lengthy stint on the sidelines, the 20-year-old Queensland representative has struggled since returning from injury to have the same impact that saw him touted as the best young player in the league. Averaging 136 metres and 24 tackles each week, the Broncos will need Fifita to stand up if they hope to break through for their fourth win of the season.
The favourite: Chasing back-to-back wins over the Broncos for the first time in history, the Titans are expected to prove too strong for their Queensland rivals.
My tip: On-track to record three consecutive wins for the first time since 2017, the pressure of expectation should see the Titans rise to the challenge against their lowly opponents. Titans by 14.
