PUTTING A FOOT DOWN DALE WON’T COP DROP
BOWLS THRILLER: Fire burns for starting role in ‘forgotten’ Titans centre COAST PAIN AS COTTRELL ENDS HAWKS’ PREMIER LEAGUE HOPES
THE forgotten man in the Titans’ backline dogfight admits he will be “dirty” if overlooked for the season opener against Canberra, but challenges are nothing new to Dale Copley.
Ten years on from his NRL debut with the Broncos, Copley is in danger of missing out on a Round 1 berth after coming off the bench in the Titans’ 25-22 trial loss to Brisbane on Saturday.
The run-on side for the club’s final preseason hitout was notable for the absences of Copley and cult hero Anthony Don, with Brenko Lee, Brian Kelly, Tyrone Peachey and Phillip Sami shaping as the outside backs for the March 17 encounter with the Raiders.
The injuries that have become an unfortunate trademark of Copley’s 119-game career have again limited his output over the offseason, with knee and calf issues the latest in a long line of problems.
While the 27-year-old is now back to full fitness, he knows there is a very real possibility he could start the season with Burleigh in the Intrust Super Cup.
“I’d like to play centre obviously but there is a lot of competition. (The Broncos trial) was not for two points but for that 17 (spots) in week one it’s pretty vital,” said Copley, who has played 32 games for the Titans since arriving in 2017.
“I don’t think we’ve had this much competition for spots since I’ve been here so that competition has bred a really competitive preseason. I’ve stopped trying to read what coaches think in pre-season and just play really well and make life for the coach difficult.
“You’re happy to see (other) guys do well, definitely. They’ve all worked really hard in the pre-season but that doesn’t make it any easier if I was to not get picked. I’d still be dirty.”
Copley has taken a different approach to preseason work in the wake of his most recent injuries, with strengthening his calves and hamstrings a concerted focus.
It is a change he hopes will rid him of his injury-prone tag.
“It’s been hard to build a bit of momentum from year to year and even season to season and game to game (because of injuries),” he said.
“I haven’t been able to string too much together over my career so it’s been very frustrating but I’ve put a few things in place this year so hopefully my luck can turn and I can play the year out without any injuries.”
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