Gold Coast's Prince to hammer Broncos - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Gold Coast's Prince to hammer Broncos

By Daniel Pace 16/04/2008 07:13:46 AM Comments (0)

Gold Coast playmaker Scott Prince will tear Brisbane to shreds unless the Broncos maintain their intensity for the full 80 minutes in Friday's NRL blockbuster at Skilled Park.

That's the opinion of Brisbane interchange forward Nick Kenny as his team aims to inflict the Titans' first defeat at their new home ground in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash.

Prince is arguably the form player of the competition and has mounted a serious challenge to beat North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston to the Australian No.7 jersey for the Centenary Test in Sydney on May 9.

The Broncos were cruising at 28-8 against Newcastle early in the second half on Sunday but conceded the next two tries before steadying the ship to win 34-22.

"Scotty Prince, he's a specialist in getting on top in those lull moments," Kenny told reporters after training on Tuesday.

"If he can sense there's a bit of slackening off, he'll take advantage of that so we've really got to keep the intensity the whole time.

"He throws those great dummies and you know they're coming but he still tricks you half the time.

"We're just going to have to make sure we don't fall for his bluff."

Prince is certain to be without his halves partner Mat Rogers, who faces a four-week suspension for a grade two dangerous throw on fullback Luke Burt during the Titans' gutsy away win over Parramatta on Friday.

Gold Coast officials on Tuesday submitted an early guilty plea but will contest the severity of the charge at the NRL judiciary Wednesday night.

If they are successful, dual international Rogers will cop a one-match suspension, with lock Ashley Harrison preparing to take on the pivot role.

"It's a challenge but the way the team's going at the moment, everyone's doing their job and doing it well," Titans skipper Prince told AAP on Tuesday.

"Hopefully we can overcome it like we did last week (without prop Luke Bailey)."

Brisbane will also be missing their five-eighth, Test skipper Darren Lockyer, but barnstorming centre Justin Hodges should be fit to play in the sellout encounter.

Scans have revealed Hodges has only soft tissue damage to his neck playing against the Knights, although he sat out training on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

Backrower Corey Parker trained strongly and has been named on the bench in his return from a knee injury suffered in round one.

The Titans are building a fearsome record at their fortress Skilled Park, where they remain undefeated after three premiership matches at the 27,000-capacity venue.

But Kenny insists the Broncos are eager to play there for the first time.

"We've heard it's a great stadium and it gets a great atmosphere," he said.

"I don't think it'll give them (the Titans) an unfair advantage at all."

Kenny said the Broncos pack was brimming with enthusiasm and "working hard for each other" following the off-season departures of Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Shaun Berrigan and Brad Thorn.

"With those experienced players gone now, it gives everyone else a bit more responsibility," he added.

"Everyone in the forward pack have really seemed to come out of their shells and are playing with a bit more confidence."

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