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Beau Falloon Gold Coast in action during the National Rugby League action, South Sydney Rabbitohs VS Gold Coast Titans at ANZ Stadium 7 July 2014. pic Dave Tease SMP Images

He may be a transplanted New South Welshman but Titans hooker Beau Falloon quickly came to understand that there was something extra special about any clashes with the Brisbane Broncos.

The Titans and Broncos played twice in the space of five weeks in 2014 with the home side winning on both occasions. Gold Coast literally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat courtesy of five-eighth Aidan Sezer's late handiwork in front of more than 20,000 people in Round 6 but in Round 10 the Broncos were able to turn the tables at Suncorp Stadium to the tune of 22-8.

Those two games were the only times that the Titans figured in Friday Night Football all season, a fact that has not gone unnoticed on the Gold Coast as the countdown to the release of the 2015 draw gathers momentum.

 

"They get a lot of Friday night games and we don't so it's always good to get a Friday night against them," said Falloon, the 2014 Titans Player of the Year.

"During the week in the build-up it's always in the papers and stuff so you can tell it's a big game.

"It's always good to play on a Friday night against the Broncos because it's a big game and we always try to get ourselves up for that one. It's an exciting game, they've got a good forward pack and the two teams go at it pretty good.

"There's a strong rivalry and they build it up during the week so being at the Gold Coast I think our main rivalry is definitely with the Brisbane Broncos and all the boys really get up for that game. We had a couple of tough encounters with them last year so that's probably our main rivalry."

Having made his NRL debut with the Rabbitohs in 2008, Falloon maintains close ties with players such as John Sutton and admits that a South Sydney showdown is one that he looks for once the draw is announced.

"I always like playing against Souths. I always try to get myself up for that game playing against my old club so I always look to see when we're playing them on the calendar," said the 27-year-old.

"When I go down [to Sydney] a lot of boys come out to watch the game and last year down there we got a win against them so that was very exciting.

"After the game I always love having a chat with Johnny Sutton. He's one of my good mates down there so it's always good going up against him and it's always good after the game to have a chat with him and see what he's up to."

But as teams across the NRL lay the platform for what they hope will be a successful 2015 season, a new rivalry looms for Falloon in the shape of the Eels.

Former Rabbitoh Beau Champion was the chief text message antagonist when Falloon would face off against the Rabbitohs in the past and with former Titans Brad Takairangi and Cody Nelson also joining the blue-and-golds, all of a sudden a Titans-Eels clash has some added meaning.

"The Eels will be a good one too this year. Takairangi is down there now, Cody Nelson and I'm good mates with Beau Champion so that will definitely be another good game I'll be looking forward to," said Falloon, who also played alongside current Eels Shannan McPherson and Chris Sandow at the Rabbitohs.

"Beau Champion is normally the one doing all the texting during the week. He wasn't actually playing but he was always giving us crap saying that he was going to give it to us so he's normally the main instigator.

"I've got some good mates down there playing with the Eels now so that's another one to look forward to."

Acknowledgement of Country

Gold Coast Titans proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout South East Queensland.