TRYING HIS BEST
ANTHONY Don’s charge towards a likely club tryscoring record means little in the Gold Coast winger’s constant desire to prove himself in the NRL.
Don is second in the NRL for most tries scored – level with teammate James Roberts with 10 tries each in a season where the Titans have found a spark missing for some time.
To put the Titans' attack into perspective, Don was the Gold Coast’s leading tryscorer last season with nine tries.
He and Roberts have both exceeded that tally in 2015 and the season has not reached the halfway point.
David Mead’s 2011 club record 16 tries in a season is under threat. But while the classy finishers may joke with each other about the tally privately, Don wants to be judged on his defence, lack of errors and workrate more than his fourpointers.
“Tries are always just bonuses,’’ Don said.
‘‘You can’t really rate your performance on how many tries you get. You can play a bad game and still manage to get a couple of tries or you can play a really good game and not get any tries.
“It’s nice to get them but it’s not the be-all and end-all.
‘‘We always give each other a bit of stick about who has scored the most and what side is better.
“Generally the things I look for in my game are no tries on our edge of the field.
“Working with my centre, halfback and second-rower and not letting any tries down our edge and an error-free game and some good carries and quick play-the-balls.
“I’ve had a few good games then a few not-so-good ones.”
Don bagged a double in the Titans’ 22-16 home loss to South Sydney on Saturday when he switched from his usual left flank to play on the right in the absence of Mead.
It allowed Don to play outside the electrifying work of Roberts who in the first half either set up a try or scored with two plays.
But, as Don explained, it is not a simple matter of passing to Roberts and letting the 22year-old do his thing.
“You can’t just pass him the ball any time and expect him to do something,” Don said. “It’s about doing it the right time.”
Titans forward Ryan James will escape suspension with an early plea after being charged with grade one dangerous contact for his crusher tackle on Souths captain Greg Inglis.