The NRL’s newest rivalry looks set to flourish in Queensland with Tino Faasuamaleaui and Payne Haas already eyeing off their round two clash after coming to blows in last year’s State of Origin series.

Maroons rookie Faasuamaleaui has moved from Melbourne to Gold Coast this season, joining forces with former Brisbane powerhouse David Fifita in a union he hopes will help turn the Titans into a powerhouse.

It’s also set up a spicy derby showdown when the Broncos meet the Titans, given Brisbane young gun Haas and Faasuamaleaui have grown up as on-field adversaries.

“It’s good for us, both young boys, obviously really good mates but there’s no mates on the field and we both had that mentality,” Faasuamaleaui said of their Origin stoush that looks set to continue in the NRL.

“It’s good to have rivalries out there and hopefully some other young boys coming through can do the same.”

Adding to the narrative is the fact their little brothers Klese Haas and Iszac Faasuamaleaui are both part of the Titans’ junior program, Tino on Tuesday ominously warning that he’ll have to watch his back if Iszac continues on his current trajectory.

In the immediate future he’ll attempt to fill the void left by South Sydney-bound lock Jai Arrow, who was the Titans’ standout player after leaving the Broncos in 2017.

“He (Arrow) did a really good job there for years and I want to do a better job,” the 20-year-old said of his Maroons’ teammate.

Faasuamaleaui, whose parents live about two hours north in Gympie, agreed to the move before his breakout premiership season with the Storm.

But he was so invested in the shift that he then helped convince Fifita to join him.

Now the pair are living together until Faasuamaleaui’s partner and young daughter arrive and they move into a house later this month.

“I saw the club was moving up; they’ve been towards the bottom for a while now and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to bring it up and become a powerhouse in the future,” Faasuamaleaui said.

“I’m still young but I’m happy here … hopefully I can stay for a long time.”