Round 2: TITANS vs BRONCOS (2021)

[indoallstars]

Must win game, the amount of crap the broncos are talking....we need to silence them

[DIEHARD]

Origin player back into Titans 17 for local derby against Broncos
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/...rby-Team-List/

Titans Coach Justin Holbrook has made one change to his side for Friday night's blockbuster at home against the Brisbane Broncos, with a Queensland Origin player coming back into the 17.

Phillip Sami will line up in the centres, replacing the injured Brian Kelly who will miss the game with a hand injury.

Tickets: The rivalry resumes Friday - Titans v Broncos

Apart from the one forced change, the Titans have stuck with the same side that played against the Warriors on the Central Coast in round one.

Titans players have spoken publicly this week about the need for improvement after a round one loss and will be keen to strike first blood in the local derby against the Broncos.

The game will be the first at Cbus Super Stadium in front of the Titans Legion in 2021, with a capacity crowd able to attend the game for the first time in over a year.

Titans v Broncos

Cbus Super Stadium

Friday 19th March, 7pm kick-off

1. AJ Brimson
2. Anthony Don
3. Phillip Sami
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Corey Thompson
6. Ash Taylor
7. Jamal Fogarty (c)
8. Jarrod Wallace
9. Mitch Rein
10. Moeaki Fotuaika
11. Kevin Proctor (c)
12. David Fifita
13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

BENCH

14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Sam Lisone
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Erin Clark

18. Beau Fermor
19. Herman Ese'ese
20. Sam McIntyre
21. Tanah Boyd

[DIEHARD]

I guess it is to be expected that Sami would come in. Being an Origin player. I seem to remember him doing well for us against the Broncos in the past.

[DIEHARD]

Broncos

1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Xavier Coates 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Tesi Niu 5. David Mead 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Tevita Pangai Junior 9. Jake Turpin 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Alex Glenn 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. John Asiata 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Te'o 18. Tom Dearden 19. Richard Kennar 21. Cory Paix 22. Corey Oates

Changes from last week - Tom Flegler replaces Matt Lodge (hamstring) up front. Rhys Kennedy joins the interchange for Flegler.

Referees: Matt Cecchin;Sideline Officials: Todd Smith, Belinda Sharpe;Video Referees: Steve Chiddy;

[Mr Bods]

Well Origin is meant to make you a much better player.
Let’s see if Sami is.

[Upthetits]

Anyone heard anything about ticket sales?

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui motivated to beat Brisbane Broncos after being snubbed for Payne Haas
https://www.couriermail.com.au/

The Brisbane Broncos had Origin stars Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Payne Haas on their books — but one was forced out of Red Hill and now he wants revenge.

Titans weapon Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is itching to rip into the Broncos following revelations Brisbane overlooked him in favour of Origin nemesis Payne Haas.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Queensland Origin star Fa’asuamaleaui quit the Broncos after the club opted to invest heavily in NSW rival Haas.

Fa’asuamaleaui grew up near Gympie as a Broncos supporter and signed with Brisbane’s development squad on the Sunshine Coast as an 11-year-old.

But his pathway became blocked as a 16-year-old when the Broncos launched an all-out assault on Haas, poaching him from the Titans and later signing the Blues star to a record six-year contract.

Fa’asuamaleaui opted to head to Melbourne, launching his career at the Storm under super coach Craig Bellamy and becoming an NRL sensation in 2020.

He went on to win last year’s NRL premiership and made his Origin debut, famously fighting Haas during a heated Game Two before joining Gold Coast in the off-season as one of the club’s star recruits.

Fa’asuamaleaui, 21, said he was excited to feature in his first south east Queensland derby when the Titans tackle Brisbane at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night.

“Watching the Queensland derbies last year, they’re always fiery and the boys will be up for it,” he said.

“It will be very fiery and I can’t wait to get amongst it.

“The Broncos were my team growing up. I supported them.

“Since I was 11 or 12 I was in their development squads on the Sunshine Coast until I was 16 and I made my way down south.

“I thought it’d be a good opportunity to go down there and be under Craig and (Cameron Smith) and the older fellas down there.

“It was the best move I’ve made. I learnt a lot from them and am learning a lot here too.”

Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui had some brutal encounters in junior Origin games and their rivalry exploded on the big stage last year.

Currently serving a three-game suspension following an off-field incident, Haas will not feature for the Broncos on Friday night, robbing the derby of a mouth-watering encounter.

Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager, Simon Mammino, said the Broncos let “Big Tino” slip to Melbourne.

“Tino was at the club before Payne Haas, but the Broncos brought him to the club and then eventually signed him to a six-year deal,” he said.

“Tino wasn’t initially offered a top-squad contract by the Broncos until the Storm came into the picture. The Broncos thought Tino could play, but they only showed real interest after Melbourne came along.

“The Storm tabled a very good offer which reflected their commitment to him and as part of it Tino went straight into the full-time squad.

“The Broncos also brought Payne Haas in over the top and those two factors convinced Tino to leave Brisbane. The best pathway to the NRL in Tino’s eyes was leaving the Broncos to get an education under Craig Bellamy.

“The Broncos had big plans for Payne Haas and he has gone on to be a very good player.”

Fa’asuamaleaui had a mixed debut for the Titans in last Saturday’s loss to New Zealand.

He made 17 runs for 129m but had some defensive lapses as the Titans suffered a disappointing Round 1 defeat following a pre-season of hype.

“There’s a lot of things to work on and a lot of good things we can take out of that game,” he said.

“We need to improve our discipline and little areas in defence. We will come out better this week and hopefully get the win.

“We all shied away from what we’re good at and didn’t really use that on the weekend. We know what we need to do and will hopefully use it this week.

“We don’t see it as too much pressure, that’s what everyone else is saying. It’s good pressure and motivation for us to show everyone what we’re made of and can do.

“We’ve got to get this week right and hopefully get the win.”

Origin winger Phil Sami will replace centre Brian Kelly (broken hand) in the only change for the Titans, who trained at Cbus Super Stadium on Tuesday night to prepare for the night game conditions.

[JunctionBlock]

I didn't think Coates passed his HIA so that he would be out for 10 days. I'd expect some changes to the Donkeys

[Upthetits]

I'd drop lisone, and Clark. Bring in fermor and if fit ese ese.

Peachey, joliffe, ese ese and fermor is a much stronger bench if all are fit.

Peachey could easily fill in at hooker for 15 or 20 minutes to give rein a rest. I don't think Clark offers that much more than peach would for a short stint


Even more so now its predicted to be heavy rain, its going to be a bash fest. Need some bigger bodies on the bench, looking at theirs they are going to try play the power game and beat us into submission like the warriors did.

[Dooldog76]

I guess it is to be expected that Sami would come in. Being an Origin player. I seem to remember him doing well for us against the Broncos in the past.

But is sami an origin player? I think he was exceptionally lucky to get that spot in the first place. I prefer spry or the ferminator.

[indoallstars]

I'd drop lisone, and Clark. Bring in fermor and if fit ese ese.

Peachey, joliffe, ese ese and fermor is a much stronger bench if all are fit.

Peachey could easily fill in at hooker for 15 or 20 minutes to give rein a rest. I don't think Clark offers that much more than peach would for a short stint


Even more so now its predicted to be heavy rain, its going to be a bash fest. Need some bigger bodies on the bench, looking at theirs they are going to try play the power game and beat us into submission like the warriors did.

100% agree, Lisone for Ese'ese or Mcintyre and Clarke for Fermor. Still give us flexibility in our rotation but with more spark

[Hail Sezer]

I love the debate around our bench this year...so good to have depth. I trust Holbrook’s approach - he knows better than us how players are training, what the game plan is, and which players will best allow us to play to it.

[Titanic]

Can’t argue with that HS ... my only wish is that we defend more consistently ... and attack with a bit more belief in our skills rather than rely purely on a game plan.

[JunctionBlock]

Surprised me last week after the game to find out that Fifita had some sort of foot infection but we didn't carry a specialist 2RF. I'd love to see Fermor in the team. Given its a rainy game I'd take Clark over Boyd. Boyd may have been more effective last week given the speed of the game and heat. Not saying Clark didn't play well.

Last year when we were watching Herman play for Newcastle he wasn't setting the world on fire and now we want him to get a walk up start? Peachey would still be on the bench and taking Tinos spot anyway. Ideally we need an 80 minute hooker and then the bench would look balanced.

[BundyTitan]

Would love to know what the go is with Ese'ese. Feels strange we supposedly paid 400k+ for him just to sit in reserve grade, and play Lisone over him (who looked a bit meh against the Warriors too). He was touted as a big buy by the club so was he possibly training poorly in pre-season maybe?