Ding ding... Big boys ready for derby rumble
Never. Back. Down.
When Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Payne Haas take the field you can bet this is running through their heads and nothing will be different come 7:30pm this Saturday night.
From the Field: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
The Titans come into the game buoyed by their final-minutes victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium yesterday, while Haas' Brisbane Broncos suffered a shock loss to the Canberra Raiders on Saturday night.
Match: Titans v Broncos
Round 7 -
home Team
Titans
12th Position
away Team
Broncos
1st Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
The Broncos remain the competition leaders but will be looking to avenge their poorest performance of the year on the weekend in the Macca's Local Derby when they reignite with the Titans.
Whichever side comes out victorious on Saturday night, you can bet one of these two men will have had a big say in the result.
The pair famously went toe to toe in State of Origin but remain close friends off he field.
Not that any of that matters come the weekend.
Rivalry breeds respect: Origin middle men in awe of each other
Speaking to Sporting News in 2021 about their famous 'stoush', Fa'asuamaleaui said he and Haas remain close off the field no matter what happens on it.
“Me and him (Haas) are real close and it was just heat of the moment out there.
“We’re both good mates off the field but once we get on the field it’s just sort of no mates on the field."
Both Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui are averaging over 20 tackles and over 150 run metres per game in season 2023 and continue to lay the platform for their sides' crafty playmakers and outside backs.
One thing you can be sure of come Saturday night is that these two will give it all and should their paths cross, enjoy the ride.
