Proctor ‘a top option’ to skipper club – Zeb

OUTGOING veteran Zeb Taia has endorsed Kevin Proctor to lead the Gold Coast Titans into their 2017 premiership assault.

Recruited from the Melbourne Storm, Proctor has emerged as the man most likely to share the captaincy with prop Ryan James.

Whenever the need for a co-captaincy model has been raised, the club’s answer has revolved around the fact James usually won’t be on the field the entire game.

Coach Neil Henry yesterday indicated Proctor will meet that criteria, with the 27year-old back-rower set to be an 80-minute prospect on his favoured right edge.

Taia, who will soon depart for English Super League club St Helens, said Proctor would be a top option.

“He is ready, if he is going to be up there in taking that role,” Taia said.

“His leadership on the field with his talk and that, during training sessions he is always talking and obviously him being around guys like Billy Slater and Cameron Smith and all that, that’s just going to help.”

Henry, who greeted media by making clear his reluctance to discuss the captaincy situation, noted Proctor’s presence had been significant even when a knee injury kept him off the training paddock. “He’s been good,” he said. “He had a few runs before he injured his knee. He’s always around with our team meetings and reviews ... so his presence is still here at the club.”

Henry said Proctor had pushed hard in an attempt to be fit for the club’s trial against the Warriors last weekend and was shaping up well for Round 1.

The Titans are expected to make a captaincy announcement at their season launch tomorrow night.