Henry sticks solid to cause
GOLD Coast coach Neil Henry accepts there is pressure on him as he revs his side up to snap out of their slump with a backs-to-the-wall effort against St George Illawarra.
Rumours have swirled around Henry’s future at the club after disgraceful performances against Wests Tigers and Brisbane in consecutive weeks.
Reports have surfaced suggesting Henry has lost the support of some players while exGold Coast Seagulls and Queensland half Ben Ikin declared he must explain why he is the man to guide the Titans to success.
Henry was calm in addressing the matter, on the same day in which cross-code rivals the Suns announced the sacking of their AFL coach, Rodney Eade.
“I’ve talked to my senior players and we’re all accountable for it, we’re all in the same boat here,” said Henry, who has a 2018 contract.
“Obviously things fall with the head coach – that’s the nature of the game and I accept that and you roll with the good times and you have just got to hang in during the tough times.
“We all agree that it wasn’t a very good performance at all, we accept that, it’s done. All we can do now is react to it.
“We have got four games to go and play some decent football at the back end of the season so that is up to us to get that done.
“We need to resurrect ourselves there and prove it to ourselves that we’re a better team than that.” The Titans take on the Dragons at Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
Both their attack and defence needs drastic improvement after a combined scoreline of 80-4 against them in their past two outings.
Somewhat limited by injuries to his wider squad, Henry has given his embarrassed players a chance to redeem themselves.
The only change Henry has named to his top 17 is the expected return of Kevin Proctor from a hamstring complaint at the expense of injured prop Agnatius Paasi (knee).
Proctor’s presence on the right edge – subject to passing fitness tests – would be a major boost given the Titans have won only one of eight games without him this year.
Ash Taylor (knee) is also in doubt but has been named. If he is withdrawn, Tyrone Roberts is waiting in the wings for a promotion into the starting side.
The ninth-placed Dragons will be desperate with their finals hopes on the line.