Titans muscle up for Saints

THE cavalry is arriving for the Titans with pivotal halfback Ash Taylor and Origin prop Jarrod Wallace to return in Sunday’s clash against the high-flying Dragons.

Taylor is expected back from a hamstring injury for the clash at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba while Wallace will make his first appearance of the season after serving a suspension.

The Titans sorely missed Taylor in Saturday’s 20-8 loss to the Warriors in New Zealand.

The Gold Coast battled gallantly without their chief shotcaller but lacked the class to topple the Warriors with Bryce Cartwright filling in at halfback alongside Kane Elgey.

Taylor, 23, will go head-tohead with Dragons halfback Ben Hunt, the player that forced him out of Brisbane, only to later sign with St George-Illawarra.

Taylor produced four tryassists in the Gold Coast’s comeback win against Canberra in Round 1 and Titans captain Ryan James said he would be vital for the Gold Coast.

“I thought Carty and Elgey did a pretty good job there but he adds that little bit extra,” James said.

“He has a good short kicking game and can force dropouts. If you add him to the game, then anything could have happened.

“We played with what we had and did a half decent job apart from a couple of defensive lapses.

“We just need to put an 80minute game in. As soon as we

do that we should be right.”

Wallace, 26, was suspended for three games in the penultimate round of the 2017 season.

Because it was a grade three charge, the Maroons prop was also not allowed to play in the Gold Coast’s trial matches.

After a breakout season last year led to a State of Origin debut, Wallace is itching to get back out on the field.

Broncos recruit Jai Arrow has presented a compelling case to retain his starting spot, running for 208m against the Warriors, and Wallace is likely to either replace Leilani Latu or come off the bench.

James said Wallace was ready to return despite having played little football recently.

“He’s the fittest he’s been all pre-season now – it only took him six months to get there,” James said.

“He has that footy fitness and finds a way to get around the field and do what he has to do.