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Sydney Roosters hard man Nate Myles has declared Gold Coast Titans' pack the best in the NRL as the Bondi club seeks redemption for the forward mauling that ignited the Titans' season.
In a candid appraisal ahead of the grand final qualifier, Maroons enforcer Myles said he believed Gold Coast's front six could take the Titans to a fairytale title.
The Titans forward pack has been maligned for its perceived lack of size, with former Test skipper Gorden Tallis once questioning whether the Coast possessed the engine-room mongrel to be a premiership powerhouse.
But Myles warned the Roosters' title dream could be derailed at Suncorp Stadium by a ruthless Titans pack he believes is without peer.
The glamour Sydney club still has vivid memories of its 23-14 home loss to the Titans last month.
"The last time we played them we let them dictate what they wanted to do and their pack really hurt us," Myles said.
"I think they'd have to be the best pack in the competition. If you want workers and skill, they have it all. People say you have to shut Scott Prince down, but I don't think that can stop them."
While the winning margin in round 24 was hardly emphatic, it was the brutality and effectiveness of the Gold Coast engine room that struck a chord with their Bondi rivals.
Official NRL statistics show the Titans forwards monstered their Roosters counterparts at the SFS.
The home side's pack made 877m from 93 hit-ups, dwarfing the Roosters' paltry 504m from 61 such contests.
Veteran Titans pivot Mat Rogers said he would not swap his forward unit for any in the competition.
"I look at our forward pack and laugh to myself how good it is," he said.
Roosters prop Jason Ryles, who will go toe to toe with former Dragons teammate Bailey, admits the Titans pack is one of the best in the NRL.
"They just grind their way," he said.
"Luke Bailey is a massive part of the team and the reason they go so well. He gets in and does his hit-ups. He will take a lot of stopping."
Myles said he was almost lost to the Roosters after holding secret talks with Titans boss Michael Searle and coach John Cartwright at the end of 2007, when they were looking to add some big-name mongrel to their forward pack.
"The Titans were pretty keen on me," Myles said.
"The idea of going to a place like the Gold Coast was attractive. I weighed up my options but I wanted to be loyal to the Roosters. I love the club."
In a candid appraisal ahead of the grand final qualifier, Maroons enforcer Myles said he believed Gold Coast's front six could take the Titans to a fairytale title.
The Titans forward pack has been maligned for its perceived lack of size, with former Test skipper Gorden Tallis once questioning whether the Coast possessed the engine-room mongrel to be a premiership powerhouse.
But Myles warned the Roosters' title dream could be derailed at Suncorp Stadium by a ruthless Titans pack he believes is without peer.
The glamour Sydney club still has vivid memories of its 23-14 home loss to the Titans last month.
"The last time we played them we let them dictate what they wanted to do and their pack really hurt us," Myles said.
"I think they'd have to be the best pack in the competition. If you want workers and skill, they have it all. People say you have to shut Scott Prince down, but I don't think that can stop them."
While the winning margin in round 24 was hardly emphatic, it was the brutality and effectiveness of the Gold Coast engine room that struck a chord with their Bondi rivals.
Official NRL statistics show the Titans forwards monstered their Roosters counterparts at the SFS.
The home side's pack made 877m from 93 hit-ups, dwarfing the Roosters' paltry 504m from 61 such contests.
Veteran Titans pivot Mat Rogers said he would not swap his forward unit for any in the competition.
"I look at our forward pack and laugh to myself how good it is," he said.
Roosters prop Jason Ryles, who will go toe to toe with former Dragons teammate Bailey, admits the Titans pack is one of the best in the NRL.
"They just grind their way," he said.
"Luke Bailey is a massive part of the team and the reason they go so well. He gets in and does his hit-ups. He will take a lot of stopping."
Myles said he was almost lost to the Roosters after holding secret talks with Titans boss Michael Searle and coach John Cartwright at the end of 2007, when they were looking to add some big-name mongrel to their forward pack.
"The Titans were pretty keen on me," Myles said.
"The idea of going to a place like the Gold Coast was attractive. I weighed up my options but I wanted to be loyal to the Roosters. I love the club."
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