Titans to unleash the next big thing

FRESH from a drought-breaking win, Keegan Hipgrave is firming to make his NRL debut this weekend in another glimpse of what Gold Coast fans have got to look forward to in 2018.

The Palm Beach Currumbin State High School product was named 18th man for the Titans’ daunting Round 26 visit to Allianz Stadium to play the Roosters.

However, with an injury cloud hovering over veteran Eddy Pettybourne and rookie prop Ben Nakubuwai straining his groin playing for Tweed Heads on Sunday, there is every chance that Hipgrave will be elevated to become the 34th player to represent the Titans this season.

The 20-year-old middle forward admitted he had seen 2017 as a “developing year” but would jump at the chance to mix it with gun Sydney big men including Boyd Cordner, Dylan Napa, Jared Waerea Hargreaves and Aidan Guerra.

“I would love to debut. It has been a goal of mine for a while now,” Hipgrave said.

“If I got the chance to debut, it would be just the icing on the cake really.

“My plan is just to have a good pre-season and lay a good platform and then I am hoping to have a good crack at next year in the hope of trying to get a spot in the top 17.”

He will form part of a promising 2018 Gold Coast forward pack alongside the likes of rising talents Joe Greenwood, Max King, Morgan Boyle and ex-Broncos under-20 teammate Jai Arrow.

Hipgrave joined the Titans from Brisbane in mid-May but found wins hard to come by in the early months.

Only on Sunday in Tweed’s 26-18 upset of Papua New Guinea did he chalk up his first victory – across under-20s for Titans and Queensland Cup for Seagulls – since switching sides in the M1 rivalry.

“It was a bit frustrating,” he said of the winless period.

“For me personally I was just focusing on my development as a player so I was just happy to be out playing against men and bigger bodies.”

Hipgrave returned from a week off (concussion) to make 32 tackles and run 136m in a quality display against the Hunters.