EX-TITANS’ NEW HOME
MORTIMER JOINS COAST CLUB:
RYLEY Jacks is the Gold Coast’s $900,000 discount bargain that the Titans are banking on to kickstart their NRL campaign.
The cut-price Jacks has been thrust into the Titans’ No.7 jersey for Saturday’s Round 2 clash against the Sharks in Cronulla.
On a one-year contract worth about $110,000, Jacks will replace $1 million-aseason halfback Ash Taylor, who is out “indefinitely” with a quad injury.
Jacks, 26, arrived at the Titans late last year after spending two seasons with Melbourne, where he was tutored by former Kangaroos star Cooper Cronk.
Jacks only secured a deal with the Gold Coast after last year’s grand final, but he has now been given the duties of steering the “rudderless” Titans following their shocking Round 1 loss to Canberra.
Jacks, who grew up as a Titans fan in Brisbane, said he wanted to make the most of his opportunity, given Taylor or No.6 Tyrone Roberts (achilles) could return at any time.
“I didn’t really know where I was going at the end of last year,” Jacks said.
“I thought I was going to stay at Melbourne, then it happened a week after the grand final when I found out I was coming here.
“I was stoked to be coming here, pretty much coming home.
“I’m definitely nervous for this week. It’s quite a big deal for me to be debuting at a club, it feels like I’m making my NRL debut again.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next week. I’m going to treat it like it’s my one chance. I could only get one game this year. I’ll give it my all on Saturday.”
Jacks was signed by the Roosters in the under-20s before making his way back to Queensland, playing for Easts and Burleigh prior to being snapped up by the Storm. He played 25 NRL games for the Storm over 2017-18, but didn’t feature in either of Melbourne’s grand final appearances.
Titans coach Garth Brennan was critical of his side’s lack of direction in the 21-0 loss to the Raiders, and Jacks said he had been given a specific role.
“That’s what the boys are looking for this week, they’ve said to me in meetings they want a bit of direction out there,” Jacks said.
“I’m definitely ready after playing a couple of years at Melbourne and learning off those really good organisers.
“I’ve got to do my job.”