http://www.nrl.com/titans-beat-broncos-18-16-in-nrl-trial/tabid/10874/newsid/65826/default.aspx
The millionaire-dollar question of which Brisbane Broncos player will inherit Darren Lockyer's prized No.6 jersey remains unanswered after Ben Hunt and Corey Norman failed to stamp their mark on Saturday night's NRL trial against the Gold Coast Titans at Pizzey Park.
The near full-strength Titans won the match 18-16, but the home side's victory came at a heavy cost as hooker Beau Falloon (suspected torn biceps) and flying winger Kevin Gordon (sore knee) left the field in the first half.
The Broncos weren't spared either. Backrower Dunamis Lui was forced off with a biceps injury and winger Aaron Whitchurch was placed on report for a late hit on forward Luke O'Dwyer.
Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin started the match with Hunt at five-eighth and threw Norman, the other contender for the five-eighth spot, into the fray in the 25th minute.
They shared the roles of pivot and hooker, with Peter Wallace also playing second receiver at times during a scrappy match.
Neither Hunt nor Norman demanded automatic selection, giving Griffin a headache before his round one match against Parramatta next month.
Hunt set up the final try for the Broncos, with a kick for centre Dale Copley in the 78th minute, but by then it was too little, too late.
Titans coach John Cartwright will be delighted with the efforts of recruit Nate Myles, who skittled defenders with his damaging runs and smashed opponents with some bone-rattling tackles.
Mark Minichiello also had a barnstorming match for the Titans, scoring two tries in the first half as the home side went to the break with an 18-4 lead.
Jordan Rankin, who played at five-eighth following the withdrawals of Greg Bird (chest injury) and Will Zillman (back), scored in the 29th minute after his team-mate Bodene Thompson had gone close to crossing the line himself.
It took the Broncos 35 minutes to post their first points, with centre Gerard Beale scoring in the corner from a Peter Wallace bomb.
The Broncos were missing their All Stars contingent of Sam Thaiday, Jharal Yow Yeh, Justin Hodges and Jack Reed, plus veteran prop Petero Civoniceva and boom backrower Matt Gillett.
Titans' star recruit Jamal Idris had few opportunities to shine but that should change as he becomes more familiar with playing outside club talisman Scott Prince.
Griffin agreed that neither Hunt nor Norman had made an iron-clad case to replace Lockyer in the vital pivot role.
"I thought we were a bit scratchy again tonight attack-wise," he said.
"It took us a while to get going. Corey Norman had some good touches and Ben Hunt got going a bit late in the game."
Asked whether it was fair to say neither player had put their hand up for the No.6 jumper, Griffin said: "Yeah that's a fair call."
But he said he wasn't too concerned about the playmaker's role.
"We're building as a team and tonight they (Norman and Hunt) had a lot of inexperienced guys around them who won't be there next week.
"We got ourselves into trouble at 18-0. I thought it was encouraging the way we finished the game.
"But I was disappointed with the early intensity we had."
Titans coach John Cartwright was pleased with his recruits, in particular Idris, Myles, Beau Champion and Luke Douglas.
"I think our points came off the physical presence that we had," Cartwright said.
"(Scott) Prince was at his best. He had a spring in his step, his kicking game was good and his defence was strong."
