Carty’s patient request to fans

‘GIVE ME TIME’: TITAN

BRYCE Cartwright has appealed for Gold Coast fans to keep the faith, admitting it will take time for the big-money recruit to adjust to a new tactical role at the Titans.

Rookie Titans coach Garth Brennan is hoping a remodelled role will show the best of Cartwright, starting in his official Gold Coast debut against Canberra on Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium.

Blooded as a ball-playing lock on the fringes at former club Penrith, Cartwright will be deployed as a tight forward this season by Brennan, who believes his skill and size can be a potent mix in midfield.

Cartwright experienced a taste of his redefined role in the Titans’ final pre-season hitout on February 24, playing 70 minutes in the middle in the Coast’s 20-14 Sunshine Coast trial loss to the Warriors.

The NSW State of Origin hopeful struggled for impact, well contained by the Warriors’ defence, and he urged Titans fans not to expect instant miracles as he settles into his new life on the Gold Coast.

“To be honest, I’m still finding my feet here,” he said.

“Combinations and that sort of understanding with your teammates takes time.

“I felt I was still finding my feet at Penrith, so it will take some time here and that comes with training hard and working hard.

“I can definitely do more in attack. I know it will take some time, I was happy to play more minutes (against the Warriors) and I’ll keep working hard.”

At Penrith, Cartwright played 16 of his 68 games at five-eighth, a position in which he never felt truly comfortable as he alternated between the backs and the forwards.

“I feel the forwards is where I can play my best football and I like the way ‘Brenno’ plans to use me.,” Cartwright said.

“I played 70 minutes in the middle (against the Warriors).

‘‘I was pretty tired but I was happy that he kept me on there for that long, that will do me the world of good for Round 1.

“Especially with the new boys and unfamiliar faces, it was good to get a few combinations going.”