LOCK HIM IN

Life at Titans to deliver security for Bryce Cartwright

TITANS recruit Bryce Cartwright says he has a chance to get back to his best on the Gold Coast after growing tired of switching positions at Penrith.

Cartwright pulled on a Titans jersey for the first time in the 38-10 trial loss to the Broncos in Toowoomba on Saturday night.

The NSW hopeful only played the opening 20 minutes of the defeat and had few opportunities to get involved.

Cartwright, 23, left the Panthers earlier this month following 68 NRL matches to seek a fresh start under new Titans coach Garth Brennan, a former mentor at Penrith.

He spent most of his four NRL seasons at Penrith floating between the back-row and five-eighth, failing to nail down a permanent position under coach Anthony Griffin.

Brennan has given Cartwright the chance to shine in the No. 13 at the Titans and the ball-playing forward believes that stability will help him.

“It’s exciting because I can try to lock down that position and play there regularly,” he said. “I was sort of getting sick of being changed around and thrown in different positions.

“I’m excited to work with Garth again and this team. I’m getting used to things again.

“Coming to a new team, I want to earn the respect of everyone here, coaching staff and players. I’ve got to get back to playing some good footy.”

Cartwright will play in the final trial against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday when he will get a longer run in a beefed up team. He appeared to be in good shape for the Broncos trial and said his move from Penrith in preseason had gone smoothly. “I felt pretty good,” he said. “It was a pretty red-hot Broncos team and we were a bit behind it from the start. It was good to get the first 20 minutes of the year away.

“I haven’t missed much training. I’m just getting used to all the boys here and plays and calls. I’m enjoying my time.

“I’m playing in the middle which is a change. I’ve got to work on my game fitness and combinations with the other boys.”

Brennan is expected to name the likes of Ryan James, Kevin Proctor, Michael Gordon, Ash Taylor and Konrad Hurrell for the Warriors trial.

Nathan Peats (shoulder), Anthony Don (shoulder) and forward Jai Arrow (ribs) are still under injury clouds.

Brennan said he was keen for Cartwright to have a bigger impact against the Warriors.

GOLD Coast coach Garth Brennan felt he owed it to the club’s feeder team players to give them a crack against the NRL’s best – but he won’t be rushing into upgrading them to full contracts.

Brennan fielded a number of lesser-known players in his side’s 38-10 loss to Brisbane in Toowoomba on Saturday night – a scoreline that reflected a mismatch in experience.

Among those without toptier or development contracts to get rare game time in Titans colours were Apiata Noema, Jamal Fogarty, Blake Leary, Cheyne Whitlaw, Chris Law, Dallas Wells and Troy Leo.

Wells and Leo were handed opportunities on 24 hours’ notice, the latter as a replacement for Burleigh teammate Justin Tavae who suffered a rib injury during captain’s run on Friday.

The call-up for Wells – a five-eighth who previously spent time in Cronulla’s system – simply came on the back of impressing when the Titans faced Burleigh in an opposed session during the week.

“That’s good for Burleigh and Tweed knowing that there is that pathway,” Brennan said.

“The big thing for me was that a lot of those guys have been training since November.

“Against the Warriors we’ll go in a lot closer to what we will be in Round 1 so it was their only real opportunity to get a game of football at that level. I felt like I owed it to those guys with the summer they have put in, that they at least deserve to have a red hot crack in a trial and show what they are capable of.”

The Titans still have two spots available on their main roster but are more likely to wait for opportunities within the market rather than rushing to upgrade a feeder player.

Brennan said the result was in no way a reality check but noted he will be looking for far better ball control when a host of big names return against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday night.

“Those young guys were just a little bit overawed ... they improved as the game went on,” he said.

In injury news, Whitlaw suffered a broken arm in a bitter blow for Tweed.