English star Kallum Watkins to make Titans debut

Author: Titans.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 23 Jul 2019, 03:59 PM

English Test star Kallum Watkins has finally been cleared to make his NRL debut, and will become Titan No.149 when he plays his first game for the Gold Coast against the Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

Watkins has been in Australia for almost a month since his mid-season transfer to the Titans from Leeds Rhinos, but has been held back from playing his first game while the Club waited on clearance of his visa.

That clearance duly arrived Tuesday morning, with Titans Senior Coach Craig Hodges rushing the three-time Super League premiership-winner straight into the centres for the Queensland derby clash in a welcome injection of experience to the Gold Coast backline.

Watkins has played 25 Tests for England, and scored 132 tries in 256 games for the Rhinos in a stellar 12-year career in Super League. The 28-year-old is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2021.

In other significant changes to the Titans team beaten by Melbourne last weekend, forwards leader Kevin Proctor has been promoted to co-captain with Tyrone Roberts, while AJ Brimson will shift into the halves with veteran Michael Gordon back at fullback.

In a further boost, former NSW State of Origin utility Tyrone Peachey will also make his return from a pectoral injury, coming off the interchange bench.

Second rower Bryce Cartwright will pay his milestone 100th NRL game against the Broncos.

The Titans will be looking for their second win over the Broncos this year, following their 26-18 victory over Brisbane in Round 13 at Suncorp Stadium.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Saturday 27 Jul

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Titans

Broncos

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Michael Gordon

Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Anthony Milford
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip Sami

Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
Centre for Titans is number 2 Dale Copley

Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
Centre for Titans is number 3 Kallum Watkins

Centre for Broncos is number 4 Alex Glenn
Winger for Titans is number 22 Anthony Don

Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jamayne Isaako
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone Roberts

Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Darius Boyd
Halfback for Titans is number 7 AJ Brimson

Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Jake Turpin

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace

Prop for Broncos is number 8 Matthew Lodge
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Nathan Peats

Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Andrew McCullough
Prop for Titans is number 10 Jack Stockwell

Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor

2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 David Fifita
2nd Row for Titans is number 17 Sam Stone

2nd Row for Broncos is number 13 Tevita Pangai Junior
Lock for Titans is number 13 Jai Whitbread

Lock for Broncos is number 15 Joe Ofahengaue

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 12 Bryce Cartwright

Interchange for Broncos is number 14 James Segeyaro
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Tyrone Peachey

Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Rhys Kennedy
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Moeaki Fotuaika

Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Leilani Latu

Interchange for Broncos is number 18 Keenan Palasia