At 32, Brett Kimmorley should by rights be winding down his representative playing days.

But after outplaying Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston and the man considered his heir apparent - Scott Prince - in three days, Kimmorley has been tipped to re-launch his Test career.

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore threw his support behind Kimmorley usurping Thurston at the end of year Four Nations tournament after the veteran guided the Dogs to a 23-16 NRL win over the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night.

Just days after answering critics with a match-winning hand for NSW in Origin III at Suncorp Stadium, Kimmorley returned to the venue to again prove the difference.

After steering his troops all night, Kimmorley killed off a Titans comeback with a field goal in the dying minutes in front of more than 50,000 people in a fitting finale to an NRL double header.

Outplaying Titans co-captain Prince was another notch in the belt for Kimmorley who was head and shoulders above Queensland No.7 Thurston in NSW's Origin III victory.

Asked if Kimmorley was the form halfback of the NRL, Moore said: "He'd have to be up there.

"That will be decided by who does well in the finals."

Asked if Kimmorley should be considered for the Test job, Moore said: "Why not?"

It would be a remarkable comeback by Kimmorley if his form resulted in a Test nod five years after his last appearance for Australia.

A veteran of 20 Tests, Kimmorley didn't look like he would play for NSW again let alone his country after throwing "that" pass in NSW's Origin I loss in 2005 at Suncorp Stadium.

Yet a move to the Dogs has proved a masterstroke for the diminutive playmaker in 2009.

After making a triumphant return to the Brisbane venue for the Blues on Wednesday night, Kimmorley backed up to throw himself in the Test mix.

Not that Kimmorley was buying into any of it.

After being reminded that he had outplayed both Prince and Thurston in the past 48 hours, Kimmorley laughed: "Does that mean I get the Test jersey?.

"Look, I am just enjoying my footy. I am just having a bit of fun."

So what was the secret to his turnaround?

"I am relaxing more. A lot of the time you burn yourself out with mental stress, you hype yourself up but I have been able to stay away from that this year."

In a battle for outright second on the NRL ladder, the Bulldogs looked more at home despite the Gold Coast only having to travel just hour up the highway to play away as the "hosts" piled on four tries to three.

It was the eighth straight "home" win for the Dogs -- the same record held by the only other undefeated team in the NRL, the Titans.

After trailing 16-0 at halftime, the Titans at least gave themselves a chance when Mat Rogers gobbled up a Prince cross-field kick in the 53rd minute to finally get the "visitors" on the board.

But the Dogs bit back when quick hands from Jamal Idris -- returning three weeks earlier than expected from an elbow injury -- and Daniel Holdsworth set up veteran Hazem El Masri for what appeared to be the match-winning try in the 64th minute, giving them a 22-6 buffer.

The Titans had other ideas.

Flying winger Kevin "Flash" Gordon reeled in his own kick to score a brilliant individual try in the 70th minute and dual international Rogers sealed his double five minutes later to make it 22-16 with five minutes left.

But Kimmorley once again stood tall despite being one of the smallest players on the field.

A try-scoring double to Josh Morris had set up a 16-0 halftime lead for the Bulldogs.

The Titans were on the backfoot from the outset, losing Queensland Origin backrower Ashley Harrison (ankle) before the kickoff.

In the only worry for the Bulldogs, winger Matt Utai was placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Brett Delaney in the 61st minute.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP