A little slice of history is about to unfold at Suncorp Stadium, with the first ever Titans 11-a-side team named for this afternoon’s “scrimmage” match between the Gold Coast and the Broncos.
The two clubs have organised the extra, unofficial “curtain-raiser” match as a way to get some match fitness into the players from each club who have been left out of the starting 17 for NRL matches.
With the Intrust Super Cup suspended this season due to COVID-19, the players who have been unable to force their way into the main squad of 17 have had no avenue to show their form, or maintain match-fitness outside of the usual training sessions.
This match, albeit with reduced team sizes, reduced match time and a reduced field of play, will at least give those players the opportunity to experience match conditions, to keep their skills sharks and hopefully impress their coaches enough to earn a crack in the top grade next weekend.
The Titans scrimmage team, with a number of key players sidelined with injury, is not surprisingly a youthful looking squad, with a sprinkling of experience in key areas – including Tyrone Roberts, Nathan Peats, Erin Clark and Sam Stone.
Excitingly, new recruit Beau Fermor will play his first game in Titans colours after completing his recovery from a knee reconstruction.
Young half Toby Sexton will also get his chance to impress, after the Junior Kangaroos star impressed in the trial match against the Burleigh Bears at the start of the year.
With the reduced number of players on the field, team structure will be a little more relaxed than normal. Other NRL clubs this weekend have opted to play unofficial Nines matches for scrimmage games to build match fitness.
This game does not count as an official NRL fixture, which has allowed the Broncos to play suspended players Pat Carrigan and Tom Flegler.
Kick-off is at 3.30pm. Stay tuned to @GCTitans for match updates, and a full match summary at titans.com.au.
- TITANS 11-A-SIDE
- VS BRONCOS
- SUNCORP STADIUM
- Tyrone Roberts
- Kea Pere
- Treymain Spry
- Greg Leleisiuao
- Erin Clark
- Toby Sexton
- Nathan Peats
- Sam Stone
- Beau Fermor
- Ioane Seuili
- Darius Farmer
