Coach John Cartwright took one look at Nathan Friend's swollen ankle early this week and thought the nuggety hooker had no hope of playing against Brisbane on Friday night.

But not only did Friend take the field, he played a key role in the Titans' 34-18 victory over the depleted Broncos at Skilled Park.

Friend racked up 29 tackles before limping off the field after 60 minutes, having helped the third-placed Titans to a commanding 34-2 lead.

With seven first-graders missing from the Broncos, this was a match Friend could have afforded to rest but that thought never entered his mind.

"I appreciate every game I get to play in first grade," he told AAP on Saturday.

"I don't want to miss a game. If I wasn't 99 per cent, I wouldn't have played but I knew I had the confidence in myself to get through the game."

Titans halfback Scott Prince, who played a starring role in the 16-point victory, described the diminutive Friend as "inspirational".

Cartwright was equally lavish in praising the former Broncos rake.

"I didn't think he was any chance of playing when I saw his leg on Tuesday but he's the ultimate professional and very strong willed," he said.

Asked whether Friend's ability to ignore the pain and contribute to the team still left him surprised, Cartwright replied: "Probably not any more. He's been doing it all year.

"He's played 80 minutes of every game. I don't know if there'd be any hookers that have done that this year.

"He's been near our best in all those games."

Earlier this week, the blood in Friend's right ankle had congealed and fresh claret was pumped in, which "worked wonders".

He said the ankle was swollen and encased in a protective boot on Saturday but he was confident of playing against North Queensland at Skilled Park on Friday.

Back-rowers Ashley Harrison (rib cartilage) and Mark Minichiello (corked knee) both said on Saturday they were "touch and go" for the Cowboys clash.

Cartwright wants his players to be more ruthless when they have the upper hand and maintain their intensity for 80 minutes.

They clocked off in the final 20 minutes against Brisbane, conceding three late tries while Friend, Harrison and Minichello were off the field.

"You watch the sides who are the standouts - the Dogs come to mind - they don't change their game at all from the first minute to the 80th minute," Cartwright said.

"They've got better as the year's progressed. I do think there's a mile of improvement left in us.

"Defensively we're aiming up. We've got the players to threaten anyone."

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak said captain Darren Lockyer (knee) should be fit to face Canberra in the nation's capital on Saturday while Karmichael Hunt (thigh), Peter Wallace (hamstring), Sam Thaiday (ribs), Tonie Carroll (knee) and Nick Kenny (knee) were all "a chance".

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