TITANS’ ONE STOP PROP
Relieved Titans finally land their big man – now they want to get someone else’s
GOLD Coast Titans prop Jarrod Wallace has penned a $2.5m deal to remain with the NRL club for the next four years.
The Runaway Bay junior and State of Origin player said he stayed at the club for his family and teammates.
The Titans will now zero in on Canberra big bopper Shannon Boyd to futher bolster their pack next season.
THE Titans are set to up the ante for Canberra prop Shannon Boyd in a bid to bolster their pack, after Jarrod Wallace agreed to a new $2.5 million contract upgrade.
Wallace’s contract saga ended yesterday, with the Queensland prop agreeing to a four-year deal that will see him stay on the Coast until 2022.
The new deal came following pressure from Titans coach Garth Brennan, who had slapped a Monday deadline on the forward. Now the NRL club will turn their attention to Boyd (pictured), in a bid to further boost their pack for 2019.
It is believed the club have tabled a $2.4 million offer for the former Test firebrand and Brennan hopes to receive an answer in the coming weeks.
“We are pleased to have Jarrod tied up and I am still interested in Shannon,” said Brennan. “We have tabled a good offer to Shannon and we’re hopeful of getting an answer from him soon.
“We can afford both guys under the salary cap.
‘‘It might affect our ability to recruit in other areas but a forward rotation of Wallace, Boyd, Ryan James and Jai Arrow is pretty formidable.”
Wallace was also confident about his future, after revealing he stayed at the club for his family and teammates.
“I know it’s a big deal and I’m really excited to pay back the (faith),” he said.
“We’re building nicely (at the Titans). I’m really stoked that I get to stay and play. “I’m glad I don’t have to go. ‘‘Now we have to put some performances on the board.
“We’ve got a lot of new combinations and a lot of boys trying to find their feet.”
The Titans were in danger of losing Wallace after he met with Newcastle officials last week, but Brennan’s take-itor-leave-it stance convinced the 26-year-old to pledge his future to the Gold Coast.
It is a retention coup for the embattled Titans, who are so confident Wallace can spearhead their pack for the long haul they have outlaid in excess of $600,000 annually for the former Bronco.
Wallace was capable of attracting offers of around $700,000 a season on the open market, but the Gold Coast’s lifestyle and his status as a local junior were key factors in his decision to stay.
Wallace had until June 30 to take up an existing 12month option in his favour, but has waived that clause to sign a more lucrative four-year extension.
The 108kg front-rower is expected to again be chosen in the Queensland team for Origin I at the MCG on June 6.
TITANS hooker Mitch Rein says he could understand if the constant heavy criticism is getting to his former Penrith teammate Bryce Cartwright.
The high-profile Gold Coast recruit has been under the microscope during the opening 10 rounds of the NRL season and that scrutiny has only intensified in recent weeks following some shocking defensive displays.
Cartwright missed seven tackles against the Raiders in Round 9 and then was slammed for his non-attempt to stop Melbourne pivot Cameron Munster from scoring on Saturday night.
Rein, who spent 2017 at the Panthers alongside the utility, said it was hard to ignore the flak being directed at the 23year-old.
“He has been copping a fair bit of criticism, like every time I seem to be going on my phone and that, he is copping a lot of s**t and in the paper and from everyone,” Rein said.
“To be honest I haven’t spoken to him about it but if everyone is coming at you 24/7, you would have to buy a little bit into it.
“But he is probably blocking it out and doing everything he can to get better and that’s all we can really ask of him.
“He’s a great player and everyone knows how skilful he is. He is working really hard to do everything he can.
“I mean those things take time. It’s not like he is not working hard.
“He will get there and will improve on those deficiencies that he has in his game.”
Rein is likely to receive reinforcements in the dummyhalf department shortly, with Nathan Peats expected to return from a rib injury on Saturday against Newcastle.
Jai Arrow (ribs) is also a fair chance to return, though Kevin Proctor (groin), Will Matthews and Jack Stockwell (both concussion) are all in doubt to face the Knights at Cbus Super Stadium.
HE HAS BEEN COPPING A FAIR BIT OF CRITICISM, LIKE EVERY TIME I SEEM TO BE GOING ON MY PHONE AND THAT, HE IS COPPING A LOT OF S**T MITCH REIN ON BRYCE CARTWRIGHT