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Brisbane have thrashed Gold Coast 38-10 in their NRL trial in Toowoomba, with bad boy Matt Lodge making his debut and two tries from ex-Titan James Roberts.
It was worth the wait.
Former NRL bad boy Matt Lodge made a Brisbane debut to remember, dominating a Gold Coast pack to help inspire the Broncos' 38-10 trial win at Toowoomba on Saturday night.
An early try scoring double by ex-Titans centre James Robert left his former side shell-shocked while Brisbane halfback Kodi Nikorima was impressive.
But Lodge got all the post-match attention after finally launching his comeback almost three years since his last NRL game.
Brisbane raised eyebrows when they signed Lodge on a deal for 2018 when the giant prop was cleared by the NRL integrity unit two years after being deregistered over an alcohol-fuelled rampage in New York.
Lodge avoided jail in the US after pleading guilty to reckless assault for the October 2015 incident but was hit with a $1.6 million damages bill.
But Broncos veteran forward Sam Thaiday, who skippered the trial team, believed Lodge showed he was ready to repay Brisbane's faith after his standout display.
"He's been itching for a long time to get that Broncos jersey, he definitely wanted to prove a point tonight," he said.
"He has put his hand up going forward to round one."
Brisbane were without the likes of skipper Darius Boyd (hamstring), playmaker Anthony Milford and their starting backrow but still had too much firepower for Gold Coast.
Queensland winger Corey Oates was impressive off the Brisbane bench on his backrow debut, showing he will be a threat on an edge by scoring in the 39th minute.
Thaiday believes Oates and fellow Toowoomba standouts Jaydn Su'A and Dave Fifita would press for backrow spots this season.
"Corey has given himself the challenge to play like a forward - it was a step in the right direction," Thaiday said of Oates.
It was a night to forget for new Titans coach Garth Brennan after the Broncos ran rampant in front of 8056 fans, scoring seven tries to two.
Ex-Penrith star Bryce Cartwright made his Titans debut playing at lock for the first 20 minutes but there was little else to note from the well beaten Gold Coast pack.
Brennan had also been looking for five-eighth Kane Elgey to take charge without rested playmaker Ash Taylor but nothing went to plan for the hapless Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The Titans didn't get on the board until the 60th minute.
One of the few times Brisbane's momentum was stalled was when a streaker ran on to the field with 20 minutes left.
