Titans v Broncos: Five things we learned from Brisbane’s 24-16 win

COREY Parker needs to find another gear, the tactical switch that backfired on the Titans and more — what we learned from Brisbane’s derby win.

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND - APRIL 01: Corey Parker of the Broncos is tackled during the round five NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on April 1, 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

1. Corey Parker needs to find another gear. The Broncos skipper was by no means ordinary but some of Parker’s runs are lacking their usual line-bending zest. It’s not unusual to see Parker produce seven or eight offloads a game but the Titans did well to muzzle him, restricting the Maroons warhorse to just one offload.

Corey Parker was restricted to just one offload against the Titans.

2. Titans coach Neil Henry paid the price for a bizarre tactical switch. He moved the experienced Josh Hoffman from left to right centre, forcing rookie John Olive to mark James Roberts in just his fifth NRL game. Olive found it tough going from the outset. Roberts needed just four minutes to fend him off and then Olive leaked a second try when Ben Hunt dummied through to score.

3. Josh McGuire must be handed his maiden Australian jumper for next month’s trans-Tasman Test against the Kiwis. McGuire has been the form prop of the first five rounds and has bounced back remarkably well from his ruptured achilles. The Broncos bookend charged for 171 metres and deserves to be picked ahead of James Tamou in the Australian front-row.

Josh McGuire was immense for the Broncos against the Titans.

4. Kodi Nikorima is developing into a neat X-factor for the Broncos. His superb 58th-minute solo try beating four defenders in a zig-zagging 30-metre sprint to the line was just the type of game-breaking play Brisbane were craving. Andrew McCullough may be Brisbane’s pre-eminent hooker but in Nikorima the Broncos have a dangerous interchange weapon who can terrorise bigger forwards.

5. Titans halfback Ashley Taylor has shown some positive signs in the early stages of his NRL career and the most impressive aspect of his game has been his short kicking. Taylor produced a perfectly weighted grubber for David Mead to score and it’s not the first time his attacking kicks have been on point.

Originally published as Titans v Broncos: Five things we learned from Brisbane’s 24-16 win