Low on stocks so Cartwright must stay

GOLD Coast coach Garth Brennan has defended his decision to stick with Bryce Cartwright at five-eighth, insisting the Titans have no other option to wear the No.6 jersey.

Cartwright will start at pivot for the second week when the Titans tackle the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday.

Brennan sent regular fiveeighth Kane Elgey to the Intrust Super Cup last week to discover some form following a poor start to the season.

Cartwright, an aspiring backrower, was less than convincing alongside halfback Ash Taylor in last Saturday’s 10-9 loss to Cronulla at

Cbus Super Stadium.

Brennan took over the Titans from sacked coach Neil Henry late last year, inheriting a roster short on play-making options.

The departure of Jarryd Hayne further weakened the Gold Coast’s key position stocks. Brennan’s only other genuine option is untested rookie AJ Brimson, who has played a handful of reserve grade games.

Brennan said he would persist with Cartwright at fiveeighth until Elgey was ready to return to the NRL.

“Bryce’s best position will be in the back-row, he’s not a five-eighth going forward,” he said.

“The situation for us at the moment is Kane needs to get some confidence back, that’s why he’s playing Queensland Cup. The simple cold hard fact is there is no other option there to play in the halves apart from Bryce.