Rein happy to rotate rake with Simpkins
MITCH Rein has left the door open for coach Garth Brennan to bring Ryan Simpkins on to the Titans bench, saying they lack spark without a dummyhalf rotation.
Rein last weekend scored his first starting gig since moving to the Gold Coast in the off-season as a result of incumbent NSW hooker Nathan Peats damaging rib cartilage in the side’s Round 6 loss to Penrith.
He played the full 80 minutes against the Cowboys and racked up some impressive numbers, making 43 tackles, running 70m and producing a try assist to send Ash Taylor over.
But, despite his increased opportunity, Rein didn’t feel as if he proved to Brennan that he should play unchanged in the next month as the Titans await Peats’ return.
“Not really,” he said, typically blunt.
“Every week is different for us. When there is two of us we can offer a point of difference and a bit more energy so that’s really the thought process, just at the moment we’re a bit thin so it’s just how it is.
“It was good to get a few more minutes on the weekend but obviously the goal is to win and we fell short.”
That line of thinking may translate to a bench spot for Simpkins in order to allow Rein to make more of an impact in his time on the field at Cbus Super Stadium against Cronulla on Saturday.
Simpkins, who can cover back-row and hooker, has only played one game this season on return from a knee injury.
He has been named on the extended reserves list in the No.19 jersey.