The NRL came to Toowoomba on Saturday night when M1 rivals, the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans met in a trial match in front of a huge crowd.
More than 8000+ fans packed into Clive Berghofer Stadium to see the Broncos outplay and outscore their Queensland cousins, 38-10.
Each team had their good share of seasoned NRL players with veteran Sam Thaiday leading out the Broncos whilst Kane Elgey led his Titans out.
The Broncos meant business from the outset with James Roberts collecting two tries even before the Titans blinked.
Winger Jonus Pearson and fullback Jamayne Isaako added to the Broncos’ score to give their side a 20-0 lead at halftime.
The Titans had no answers for what the the Broncos’ pack, led by Matt Lodge, were throwing at them.
Brisbane scored two more tries in five minutes with Corey Oates scoring his first try as a backrower and Sam Tagataese barging over to make it 32-0.
Titans halfback Alexander Brimson was rewarded with a four-pointer.
He and forwards Jai Whitbread and Keegan Hipgrave toiled well for the Gold Coast side.
Brimson and Justin Tave scored late tries for the Titans, whilst Broncos interchange player George Fai grabbed a try to make the final score 38-10.
READ: Brimson one to watch for Titans
There was not a bad player in the Broncos outfit and outside of their regular NRL stars, young centre Tom Opacic and five-eighth Sam Scarlett impressed.
If the Saturday night game is any indication, the Titans have some work to do prior to Round 1 as they lacked aggression and seemed disorganised at times.
They will need to improve if they are to be a force come their Round 3 encounter against the St George-Illawarra Dragons on Sunday, March 25 in Toowoomba
Saturday’s trial match was a wonderful spectacle for an appreciative Toowoomba crowd and the Garden City is looking forward to hosting their debut NRL match in just over a months’ time.
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BRISBANE BRONCOS 38 (James Roberts 2, Jamayne Isaako, Corey Oates, Sam Tagataese, George Fai tries; Jordan Kahu 3, Jamayne Isaako 2 goals) defeated GOLD COAST TITANS 10 (Alexander Brimson, Dallas Wells tries; Tyronne Roberts-Davis goal) at Clive Berghofer Stadium
