Veteran puts team No.1

Gordon just happy for the competition for spots

“IF he is playing fullback then I will be the first to congratulate him.”

That’s the message from Titans veteran Michael Gordon as he and boom talent AJ Brimson go head-to-head for the No.1 jersey in 2019.

Gordon was solid in 20 games at fullback this year before a wrist injury cut short his season, paving the way for Brimson to switch from five- eighth and star at the back.

With Tyrone Roberts or Ryley Jacks now most likely to partner Ash Taylor in the halves, the scene is set for a quality tussle for the duties at the back.

“I’m a team first and foremost sort of person and whatever is required I will do,” the 35-year-old said.

In his 15th and probably last NRL pre-season before he pulls on the boots alongside mates at Tweed Coast Raiders, Gordon reported his body is “surprisingly really good” as he closes in on a return to full contact work.

The Titans’ back-to-work initiative ended yesterday, with Gordon having spent four days as a carpenter with Benedictus Homes.

Gordon clocked up the kilometres to various job sites from his northern NSW home, including working on townhouse frames in northwest Brisbane earlier in the week and building a granny flat in Wongawallan yesterday.

“It’s good to see professionals in other trades doing their job and I think any time you get a chance to learn other skills or see people doing something different it’s always a bonus,” he said.

The one-time NSW representative – who has previously worked on a farm, in landscaping and concreting, and as a pizza boy – identified consistency as the top area needing improvement to propel Gold Coast up the ladder.

“This year we were good enough but not close enough in a lot of games and that’s probably what we need to fix, is that consistency,” Gordon said.