Titanic halves debate
Coach Henry left with pleasing headache amid finals chase
GOLD Coast coach Neil Henry has declared form will determine the selection of his halves, despite Kane Elgey and Ash Taylor being viewed as the long-term No.6 and 7.
Taylor has combined superbly with Tyrone Roberts in recent weeks, with the close mates sharing an impressive record when together during the past 18 months.
Roberts is off-contract at the end of the year while Taylor and Elgey – who have been publicly endorsed as the club’s primary playmakers – have deals for 2018.
“We see them as longterm partners in the halves in this club moving forward,” Henry reiterated yesterday.
But he made no guarantee of Elgey’s immediate hold on the five-eighth role as the Gold Coast junior recovers from a sternum injury.
The Titans named the 23year-old on an extended bench for their crucial clash in Penrith against the ninthplaced Panthers on Saturday.
“Ash had a very good game (in their 30-10 win over Cronulla) as we know but Tyrone did his job on the other side too,” Henry said.
“We need them playing good footy for the team to go well so hopefully they continue and there’s a little bit of pressure there I suppose with Kane coming along at training and starting to get fitter.
“That’s a healthy thing to have … we’ll pick it on form.”
Henry said it is not yet clear whether Elgey will be fit for this weekend but did not rule out a return via the NRL – possibly on the bench – or the Queensland Cup.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett last month dropped halfback Ben Hunt to feeder side Ipswich in a move that ultimately reignited his form.
“Going back to Tweed might be something that he needs to do for some confidence,” Henry said.
“They’re light on in the halves down there at the mo- ment with a number of injuries and he could certainly run the show down there but we’ll wait and see, he might come straight into the 17 anyway.”
Morgan Boyle has been named in jersey No.14 but again may be squeezed out by second-tier salary cap pressures.
“It does restrict you picking your best side at times,” Henry said of the current second-tier rules.