Banking on an AJ switch to turn tide
TITANS coach Justin Holbrook has lamented the Gold Coast’s start to the season but insists the side’s finals quest isn’t over and Maroons livewire AJ Brimson can kickstart a fightback.
The Titans will head into Friday night’s daunting showdown against unbeaten Penrith with their season on the line following a 2-5 start to their campaign.
Last year’s drought-breaking finals appearance seems like a lifetime ago for a club that believes it is moving forward and wants to win two NRL premierships in the next eight years.
A 30-4 loss to the Cowboys last week has prompted Holbrook to shift Brimson from five-eighth to his preferred position at fullback for the Panthers clash.
A loss to the premiers could drop the Titans into the NRL’s bottom four with a third of the regular season completed.
Even with a favourable draw, it will take a big effort from the Titans to win about 10 of their remaining 16 games to qualify for back-to-back finals appearances.
After releasing experienced playmaker Jamal Fogarty to Canberra, Holbrook went into the season believing a halves partnership of rookie halfback Toby Sexton and Brimson could take the Titans to the playoffs.
But he has abandoned the experiment after seven weeks
and will play utility Will Smith at five-eighth in a desperate bid to kick his team into gear.
“We’re not offering a lot with the ball,” Holbrook said of the positional changes. “We are focusing so hard on our defence but haven’t been great with the footy in the hands.
“Will Smith played there in round 1 for us and has spent all pre-season here. It’s been really hard for Jamayne (Isaako, fullback) to come in (from the Broncos) and jump straight into the side.
“He’s done a really good job but we’ve got to go with a bit more creativity. AJ is equally as good in both positions.”
Holbrook could have his first-choice spine playing together on Friday night but has opted to leave fullback Jayden Campbell in reserve grade for a second week in his return from a rib injury.
“JC is back now but he’s got to play well to get back in,” Holbrook said.
“He is underdone. He was crook going into the game (for Tweed Heads), so it wasn’t ideal for his first game back. He needs a couple of games.”