SAFE SIX TALK

Titans coach says Kane Elgey has long-term appeal as five-eighth

MAKE no mistake about it, Neil Henry’s long-term plans involve young gun Kane Elgey as the Titans’ five-eighth.

Elgey, 23, will make his return to NRL action off the bench for the Gold Coast against Newcastle.

A hamstring injury kept him on the shelf at the weekend when the Titans scored a thrilling upset over Cronulla.

And while coach Henry has retained the winning combination of Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts in the halves, boom Gold Coast-product Elgey will eventually find himself back in the No.6 jumper.

Henry said Elgey, who managed to get through the first seven rounds of 2017, was still tracking towards some of his best football.

After giving the rugby league world a taste of what he could do at the back end of 2015, Elgey missed his entire second NRL season due to a cruel pre-season knee injury.

“It’s going to take some time to adjust,” Henry said.

“We talked a little bit about second-year syndrome for some players and he didn’t really have that.

“He had his knee for that second year so he is coming in to his second year of football now with a lot of expectation on him.

“He’s been improving his game – he’s been working hard defensively.

“His running last game was pretty good.

“He is a quality player but we need to make sure we are not placing too much pressure on him.”

Henry said the coaching staff had taken a cautious approach with Elgey for the Sharks game.

“At a pinch (Elgey) could have played last week,” Henry said.

“He couldn’t run flat out and had a tight hamstring that had been around for a couple of weeks and we just thought we would take him out.”

In further proof of Elgey’s future at five-eighth, Henry said he was prepared to shift Roberts to hooker when the young star enters the game.

“Tyrone is proving his adaptability playing at fullback, a bit of hooker and in the halves,” Henry said.

“There is no doubt he is in some good form at the moment and we know he can play.

“But as I have always said there is a three-way battle for the halves anyway and it’s certainly shaping up that way.”

Elgey will replace utility player Karl Lawton (hamstring) for this Saturday’s game at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Paterika Vaivai and Tyronne Roberts-Davis have been brought in to the side for injured duo Chris Grevsmuhl (shoulder) and Dale Copley (ribs).

English import Dan Sarginson will start in the vacant centre spot.

Henry said Grevsmuhl was facing at least a six-week stint on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder against the Sharks.

“He’s certainly got some significant shoulder damage,” Henry said.

“It could be worse (than six weeks). It’s quite sore and he hasn’t got much movement.

“He has had a scan but I’m not sure of the extent of the damage.

“We will wait for the medical team to have another look at it.

“He still has a fair bit of swelling there.”