TITANS FLYERS ADD ELEMENT OF SPICE TO DERBY
TWO of the Gold Coast’s brightest emerging flyers will go head-to-head today in a thrilling spectacle for fans at Piggabeen Sports Complex.
Among the highlights of the Coast’s Intrust Super Cup derby between Tweed Heads and Burleigh from 1.10pm will be the battle between 20-year-olds Kiah Cooper and Tyronne Roberts-Davis.
Cooper, the cousin of Ash Taylor who joined the Titans this season on a development contract, will line up on the right wing for Tweed, directly opposite Roberts-Davis on Burleigh’s left flank.
The latter is the cousin of Taylor’s ex-halves partner Tyrone Roberts and is looking to add to the six NRL games he has played to date.
Cooper is excited for the match-up, having known his teammate-turned-rival for five years now.
“We went on a France tour together. It will be funny versing him,” Cooper said.
“His footwork is good and he’s got a lot of speed – especially on me, he’s way faster than me.”
Burleigh coach Jimmy Lenihan was pleased with Roberts-Davis’ Bears debut last weekend against Redcliffe but noted Cooper will take some stopping.
“He is probably a bigger, heavier body and has got a heavier carry,” Lenihan said of Cooper.
“He really gets Tweed off to a really good start with carrying the ball forward for them.”
While the Bears have lost Ben Hannant to a hamstring injury, they have been boosted by the addition of Titans second-rower Joe Greenwood.