As a backrower, Corey Oates still makes a pretty good winger.

But Brisbane assistant coach Kevin Walters believes the true test for Queensland flyer Oates’ bold back-row experiment will be their final trial against the hardened PNG Hunters in Port Moresby next week.

Oates admitted he felt “lost” sometimes in his back-row debut for Brisbane in their 38-10 NRL trial win over Gold Coast Titans at Toowoomba on Saturday night.

The lanky flyer sacrificed his starting backline spot in the off-season in a bid to be a bench forward for Brisbane in 2018.

Oates still posed a threat on the edge against the Titans, scoring a try in the 39th minute as Brisbane ran amok.

Asked if it was realistic for Oates to be a bench forward by round one, Walters was optimistic but admitted the timely gauge would be what is expected to be a brutal PNG trial on February 24.

“I think it is (realistic). One of the beauties of Corey is that he can cover so many positions,” said Walters, who held the Brisbane reins for Wayne Bennett on Saturday night.

“But next week against the Hunters is going to be a big test for him.”

Oates has revelled on the wing for Brisbane, earning four State of Origin caps for the Maroons.

But deep down Oates has been a frustrated backrower, saying he wanted to recapture his junior days of playing in the forwards.

Oates now has just one more trial to put his hand up before the NRL season opener against St George Illawarra on March 8.

“Corey has indicated he wants to have a crack there (back row) and I thought he was good (against Titans),” Walters said.

“But he will need some time to adjust to the defensive workload.

“Obviously he is going to be very good with the ball but defensively is where he needs to do some hard work.

“And he is prepared to do that, so we just have to roll with it.”

Veteran forward Sam Thaiday, who skippered Brisbane in Toowoomba, liked what he saw from Oates.

“I thought Corey Oates went very well there when he got his chance,” he said.

“And he will learn from that, he can only get better.

“He has given himself that challenge that he wants to play in the forwards – that was a step in the right direction.”