REFS DON ME WRONG
Titans high-flyer says NRL must take the leap on illegal tactics to stifle aerial assault
GOLD Coast forward Joe Greenwood admits he knows little about his opposite number tomorrow – other than that the Titans’ 10-year anniversary jersey he will wear will feature his rival’s name but not his own.
Greenwood will mark Bodene Thompson when the Titans meet the Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium.
Thompson, 28, began his NRL career at the Gold Coast in 2009, appearing 49 times across four seasons before joining the Wests Tigers and then Warriors.
Gold Coast will name their team of the decade before the 3pm kick-off tomorrow and will celebrate the announcement by rolling out special jerseys for the Round 14 side to wear.
On it, Thompson’s name appears alongside the number 46 – he was the 46th player to represent the club in first grade – but, ironically, Greenwood’s name does not feature due to the design and manufacturing process needing to be finalised well in advance.
On being informed of Thompson’s presence on the jersey, Greenwood replied with a smile: “I’ll have to get one over him then, won’t I?”
He said he would refer to video footage to get up to speed with the ins and outs of Thompson’s game as he expects Warriors half Shaun Johnson to direct plenty of traffic the way of the againtinkered Titans left edge.
Englishman Greenwood, who is enjoying the cool winter change, is working towards cementing his place in the starting side.
He has played 80 minutes the past three rounds but the battle for back-row game time will heat up upon Kevin Proctor’s return from suspension next week.
Key to holding his spot, Greenwood says, is to unlock his offensive potential.
“Probably become more of an option in attack … get around the ball, use the offloads. With confidence that will come,” he said.
The 24-year-old said he had been studying the work of Australian Test edge forwards Boyd Cordner and Matt Gillett to identify areas of improvement for himself.