Jarryd Hayne might be the biggest name on the Gold Coast, but Broncos skipper Corey Parker says it would be foolish for his side to focus all their time and energy on trying to stop the Titans fullback this Friday night.
In what shapes as a tantalising elimination final in Queensland, Parker said the Titans were much more than just a one-man band.
And while they don't want to limit themselves to trying to stop just one player, the Broncos are expecting a big game from the Titans fullback who is set to run out for his first finals match since the 2009 grand final.
"The short answer is yeah," Parker replied when asked if he thought Hayne would fire on Friday night.
"I can't control what Jarryd Hayne does and we all know the type of player he is but there's 16 other guys that are there to do a job also. We've got a big challenge ahead.
"Let's not forget that Jarryd has only just come back into the fold for the Titans, and for three-quarters of the year they've done the job without him.
"They've got a forward pack that works really hard for each other. Ryan James is playing great footy and Birdy (Greg Bird) is chiming in also. There is a lot of strike power and good things happening at the Titans so it's not just Jarryd Hayne.
"You've got to give some credit to the guys who have done that job, and I think the halves pairing – particularly a young halves pairing – have stepped up and done a great job."
Those halves – Tyrone Roberts and Ash Taylor – have exceeded all expectations after being thrust together before the start of the season.
A year ago it looked as though Daly Cherry-Evans would be wearing the No.7 for the Titans in 2016, but after he decided to stay put – and next-in-line Kane Elgey went down with a serious knee injury – Roberts and Taylor became the men to lead the side around the park.
While Roberts has had plenty of experience in the NRL, Taylor started 2016 with just one game under his belt, and even that was cut short after he suffered a compound fracture of one of his fingers in Round 26 while playing for the Broncos last year.
Parker played in that game and has seen the 21-year-old develop into one of the most reliable playmakers going around.
"Kane Elgey's injury at the start of the year gave him a really good opportunity and he's taken it with both hands," he said.
"I think he's having an outstanding year. He controls the game really well with his kicking game and to be honest, I think he's been one of their form players. It's going to be a big occasion for him in his first finals series so it should be exciting."
Friday night's contest will be the first time the south-east Queensland sides have met in a finals match since the Broncos won 40-32 in a high-scoring affair back in 2009.
A crowd in excess of 50,000 is expected at Suncorp Stadium for the local derby, and the reality is, one of these two Queensland sides will be done for the year at the end of the 80 minutes.
"It should be a great atmosphere because it's a big game. The loser's gone, and that's the reality in front of us. We're looking forward to it. It's a nice way to kick-start the finals series with a local derby in Brisbane," Parker said.
"For us the last five weeks have been a building block and now we're in a position – and we've got an opportunity – to progress in the competition. That's our focus moving towards Friday night.
"They're a real honest team across the park and they've shown that with their spot in the finals series.
"For us, we've got no control over what they do so we've got to put all our energy into what we do and how we prepare and how we execute on the night."
