Don closes in on record
TITANS great David Mead says he will be happy to see Anthony Don break his tryscoring record when the Gold Coast cult hero returns to the NRL.
Don will make his first appearance of the season for the Titans in today’s clash against the Sharks in Cronulla.
The flying winger has been recalled to first grade after Titans coach Garth Brennan wielded the selection axe on Phillip Sami after the Gold Coast’s loss to Canberra.
A fan favourite, Don equalled Mead’s all-time Titans try-scoring record of 67 when he scored seven tries in five games late last season.
But he failed to cross in the Gold Coast’s final two games of the year and was overlooked for Round 1 selection this season, leaving him stranded with Mead.
Mead, 30, played 147 games for the Titans to become the fourth-most capped player in the club’s history behind Mark Minichiello (173), Will Zillman (156) and Luke Bailey (150).
Don, 31, has managed to equal Mead’s record in only 110 NRL appearances after debuting as a 25-year-old in 2013.
Now playing for Catalans in the Super League, Mead said Don was deserving of being the club’s all-time greatest tryscorer if he could snare that elusive four-pointer.
“He is obviously someone who’s been very hungry to play in the NRL because he didn’t debut until his mid-20s and now he’s played well over 100 games,” Mead said.
“He’s been outstanding since he started playing for the Titans. I think he is one of the most consistent players I’ve ever played with.
“You know for sure that he will go out and do his job to the best of his ability week-in, week-out.”
Don scored two tries for Burleigh in the Intrust Super Cup last weekend and Brennan wasted no time in bringing him back to the NRL. His consistency and experience will be welcome in the Gold Coast’s youthful backline, with Don saying he knew he had to perform to retain his jersey.
“I thought I might be in Q Cup for a bit longer but I’m very lucky to get a chance in first grade this week,” he said.
“The pressure is on everyone, not just me. I’ve just got to go out there and do my job.
“I haven’t been thinking about (the record) to tell you the truth. If I get it this week that’d be great but, if not, it doesn’t matter.”
Don took a rare path to the NRL, becoming a physical education teacher and scoring a bucket of tries in the northern NSW competition to catch the eye of Burleigh.
He secured a deal with the Titans after impressing in the Intrust Super Cup and said he relished every chance he got in the NRL. “It’s something I appreciate and am thankful for every day and don’t take for granted,” he said.