BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett last night placed Gold Coast's Scott Prince alongside Billy Slater as the form player in the National Rugby League, declaring the Titans captain would be difficult to leave out of Australia's Centenary Test side.
Halfback Prince was the director in an enthralling drama as Gold Coast held on for a 26-24 derby win before 27,176 fans at Skilled Park. He had a hand in four of his side's five tries and has now gone beyond simply being touted for a return to the Queensland State of Origin side.
"It's a difficult one," said former Australia coach Bennett. "You feel a fair bit of loyalty to the ones who have been there and done it for you but those two players in particular, their form's just so good.
"It's not going to be easy for them (selectors)."
Titans hat-trick hero Matt Petersen - who scored twice in the opening 10 minutes - was even more effusive. "I don't think words can describe how Scott's playing," he said.
"Scott is the form player in the competition and if they pick the side on form, he has to be in it."
But Prince himself seemed to be almost annoyed by the rising chorus of support for his selection, his response suggesting he did not rate his chances too highly. "I don't know, what do you want me to say?" he said at the post-match conference.
"There's always talk, this time every year. Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to be mentioned but they always talk about it . . ."
"I'm just enjoying my football a lot more. I'm a bit older, I guess. When all the boys are having fun, we're playing well."
Co-incidentally, Slater looks to have few rivals for the Australian No. 1 shirt after Karmichael Hunt was forced off with knee injury after 23 minutes.
The Broncos also lost second rower Corey Parker (knee) in the second half but still provided the try of the match, a 99-metre gem in the 43rd minute which featured Steve Michaels singeing the grass as he sped down the eastern flank before putting Darius Boyd over to score.
Adding to the Broncos woes was captain Justin Hodges being reported for a lifting tackle on former teammate Ashley Harrison on 23 minutes.
"I had my head down in the tackle. I didn't really know he passed the ball," centre Hodges said. "I don't really know."
Bennett said Hunt's problem "could be cartilage, could be something else". He'll have scans today.
It was suggested to Bennett that former Bronco Prince had come back to haunt him.
"He's been haunting everybody, he hasn't been saving anything up for us," Bennett replied with a wry smile.
GOLD COAST 26 (M Petersen 3, A Harrison, A Laffranchi tries; S Prince 3 goals) BRISBANE 24 (D Boyd 2, D Kemp, P Wallace tries; M Ennis 4 goals). Referee: T Archer. Crowd: 27,176.
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