Titans left in lurch
GOLD Coast fans scratching their head wondering what has gone so horribly wrong for the Titans this season need not look further than the revolving door that is their left edge.
The club will tomorrow night roll out their 10th different left-side centre-wing combination in only their 14th match this year as John Olive comes in for his first NRL game since Round 5 last season, partnering Dale Copley.
No combination has played more than two games together in 2017, making Gold Coast’s left-edge defence a prime target for opposition sides.
In stark contrast up the road, the Broncos have used only three different pairings on their left, with Corey Oates and Tautau Moga lining up side-by-side on 12 of 14 occasions.
Copley himself has been forced to get up to speed with the teammates he joined midseason in March, given his 10th game in Titans colours will provide him with a sixth different centre-wing partner.
The former Bronco and Rooster said the situation was far from ideal but all he and Olive can do is maximise their limited time together on the training paddock – this morning being their last chance before taking on South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
“We’re hit by a short turnaround too so we lose a training day which isn’t ideal but it is what it is,” Copley said.
The 25-year-old has limited knowledge of Olive but is intrigued to see what the injuryplagued young gun can produce against his former club.
“He’s a big, athletic guy so it will be exciting to see what he can do,” Copley said.
Having previously been part of “Baby Broncos” sides severely affected by the Origin period, Copley said the key for an understrength Titans outfit tomorrow would be to play a simple brand of football.
“The first thing is, especially when you’re dealing with a different spine, you have to sort of strip it back a bit and simplify things,” he said.
“But that can be a good thing too because footy is a pretty simple game and sometimes we try to overcomplicate it as professionals.
“But yeah we’ll go in with a pretty simple game plan to m make the new nine (Pat Politoni) and six’s (Chris McQueen) job easier probably than what it would have been had we h had our other guys there.”
McQueen has been n named to play five-eighth for the first time in his 153game NRL career despite Copley putting forward his o own case to secure the r role.
“I won a premiership in u under-13s,” Copley smiled o of his claims to the No.6 j jersey.