Don’s hanging in there
ANTHONY DON MAY HAVE GONE FROM TITANS LATEBLOOMER TO FANS FAVOURITE BUT HE IS NO CERTAINTY TO STAY.
TITANS cult hero Anthony Don fears he could be squeezed out of the Gold Coast after admitting he is playing for his NRL future at the club.
The winger is off-contract beyond this season. The 30year-old has scored five tries in 11 games this year following an injury ravaged pre-season in which he underwent a shoulder reconstruction before being hospitalised with a serious infection.
Don will make his 98th NRL appearance, against the Roosters in Gosford, on Saturday and admitted he had been slow out of the blocks.
“I haven’t been in as good form as I’d like,” he said. “I didn’t do any training before Christmas because of my shoulder and the infection.
‘‘I was a bit rushed and didn’t have as much of an offseason as most.
“I’m not using it as an excuse. I’ve had 11 rounds now. I’ve got to keep stepping up.
“I’m trying to get better and better to secure my spot in the team.”
Don made his NRL debut for the Titans in 2013.
He has rarely been out of the team since and is one try away from equalling Kevin Gordon (58) in second spot on the Titans’ leading tryscorers list.
Don could eclipse David Mead’s record of 67 tries for the club this season, but his future beyond 2018 is unknown with new coach Garth Brennan at the helm.
“It’s definitely an interesting time,” Don said.
“I’d be lying if I said it’s a good thing but I know the ball is in my court.
“If I play good footy everything will look after itself, if I stay here or have to leave.
“I haven’t really had any discussions (with Brennan) yet. ‘I’ll see what happens in the next month or two. “I’d love to stay.’’ While Brennan has signed Tyrone Peachey from Penrith and Canberra’s Shannon Boyd, Origin prop Jarrod Wallace is one of the few current Titans players Brennan has locked in.
Don, Dale Copley and Kane Elgey are the Gold Coast’s three highest-profile players who are without contracts for 2019.