Gold Coast Titans: Inside story of NRL side’s long rivalry with the Brisbane Broncos

The Gold Coast Titans/Brisbane Broncos rivalry has become one of the great NRL battles of the 21st century. This is the real inside story behind the two teams, which is “more than just football”.

Andrew Potts

@GCS_Pottsy

2 min read

April 16, 2023 - 5:00AM

Gold Coast Bulletin

Gold Coast

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THE rivalry between the Gold Coast Titans and their “big brother”, the Brisbane Broncos has created magic on the field and plenty of tense moments for fans.

That rivalry returns to the Gold Coast this weekend when the Titans and Broncos meet again for the first time in the 2023 season.

This time they meet as top-eight teams, with the Broncos at the top of the table and the Titans sitting tied for second with six other teams.

The blue and gold go into the game as underdogs, with records revealing the challenge they face.

Brisbane's Brent Tate gang tackled by from left Luke Bailey, Anthony Lanfranchi and Michael Henderson (AAP Image/Colin Whelan/Action Photographics)

Historically speaking, the Broncos have won 23 of the 33 head-to-head clashes, making Brisbane one of our toughest rivals, only behind South Sydney and the Melbourne Storm.

The Brisbane/Gold Coast rivalry predates the Titans, dating back to the very first clash 35 years ago between the then-new Broncos and their local rivals the Giants.

Memorably, the Gold Coast-Tweed side won its first ever victory over the Broncos 25-22 at Seagulls Stadium in round 10 of the 1988 season.

While the Broncos soared to multiple premierships through the 1990s, the Gold Coast team sank into irrelevance and ultimately folded n 1998.

Brisbane's David Stagg hit high by at left Brett Delaney while Scott Prince. (AAP Image/Colin Whelan/Action Photographics)

Fast-forward nine years and the Titans were created.

While notching up wins against Cronulla and Penrith during the early rounds of the season, the Titans truly laid out their credentials when they played the Broncos for the first time at Suncorp Stadium 16 years ago this week.

More than 47,686 people packed into Suncorp Stadium on April 13, 2007 for the Friday night clash.

Expectations were low for the Titans but, against all odds, they rounded the reigning premiers 28-16.

GC's Anthony Laffranchi looks to pass as he is tackled high by Tonie Carroll and low by Shane Perry (AAP Image/Colin Whelan/Action Photographics)

The team ran out to the Guns N’ Roses hit Welcome to the Jungle and the intensity didn’t stop from there, with the Brisbane crowd changing “Titans! Titans” throughout the game.

Titans then-managing director Michael Searle described the clash as being “something more than football”.

‘‘Paul Broughton (the club’s chairman) and I have been saying this is the start of a 100-year civil war for southeast Queensland,’’ he said.

‘‘Outside of Origin this should be the marquee event for southeast Queensland every year.

Brisbane's Steve Michaels beats Jake Webster to a high ball (AAP Image/Colin Whelan/Action Photographics)

‘‘You can see the passion in the stands. Listen to the crowd. There is even competition in the stands. ‘Once one chant goes up the other starts, but listen to the Titans fans. They are loud and clear.

‘‘Just like the players, they aren’t going to be second best.

‘‘This is phenomenal. This is great. ‘‘The civil war started tonight. The first shots have been fired.’’

“COP THAT BIG BROTHER” the Bulletin’s front page screamed the following day while carrying an imagine of Titans players Anthony Laffranchi, Clint Amos, Matt Hilder and Mat Rogers embracing after the final siren.

Titans' co-captains Luke Bailey and Scott Prince at full-time (AAP Image/Colin Whelan/Action Photographics)

“In one of rugby league’s most spellbinding fairytales, the longshot Titans stunned the Broncos and their supporters. This was the win the Titans and their supporters wanted more than anything,” wrote long-time Bulletin sports scribe Pat McLeod on the night of the game.

“This was the local derby. Little brother against big brother and the celebrations will still be going on this morning.

“The game may have been played in Broncos heartland, but Suncorp swayed to a different beat last night. The Broncos were playing but the crowd wasn’t singing that song.”