Bears eye off Titans boilover in trial

THE Gold Coast Titans are creating a new pre-season tradition with a trial match against feeder club Burleigh Bears on February 19.

The match will be a chance for redemption for the Titans’ emerging first-graders who fell to Jamal Fogarty’s Burleigh side 18-16 in a thriller last year.

Burleigh coach Rick Stone said although bragging rights were up for grabs the fixture was about more than the result for both clubs.

“I hope it does become an annual event,” the former Newcastle Knights coach (pictured) said.

“Last year was a great success with plenty of people and interest.

“We pretty much talked about doing it again straight after the game.

“It’s a great hitout for the Titans to play their second-tier crew and their lower profile players to get a bit of match experience.

“It’s good for the local feeder club too, to work together with the NRL side and do some good stuff in the community.”

Last year’s match was the first time Titans coach Justin Holbrook saw Jamal Fogarty in action.

After two games with Tyrone Roberts at five-eighth Holbrook made the call to bring in the Burleigh playmaker to start at halfback and never looked back.

“Taking on an NRL club is a great springboard, as we saw with Jamal last year,” Stone said. “It was a great opportunity for Jamal to push his barrow and this year will be a great opportunity for others to showcase their wares as well.”

Burleigh will roll out their big guns with the Intrust Super Cup kick-off one month from the date of the trial.

The Titans will give their young guns a chance ahead of a trial with the New Zealand Warriors a week later.