Fountain of youth
Titans upgrade contracts for young guns Cooper and Matautia
GOLD Coast are set to reward uncapped duo Kiah Cooper and Tony Matautia with top 30 deals as the June 30 deadline to fill their NRL squad rapidly approaches.
The Titans have 27 players on their books – additionally they have development agreements for Cooper, Matautia and Dallas Wells – and are required to issue another two contracts by Saturday.
The club has been allowed to leave its 30th spot vacant following Joe Greenwood’s immediate departure two weeks ago.
With a view to the future, Brennan plans to upgrade 20year-old winger Cooper and 21-year-old forward Matautia and offer their development positions to local up-andcomers.
The pair have been playing their weekly footy at Tweed Heads.
“I’ve been made aware that (the NRL) are going to enforce it and make sure everyone has their 30 (players) come June 30,” Brennan said.
“I’m thinking about rewarding some of these kids who have been here since November in Kiah Cooper and Matautia and maybe pushing them up into the top 30 and bringing in some young kids and getting them ready for next year as well.”
The Titans also have the option of turning to players from their Intrust Super Cup feeder teams Burleigh and Tweed but are more likely to adopt a youth policy.
Looking ahead to this Sunday, Brennan has named Maroons forwards Jarrod Wallace and Jai Arrow to back up from State of Origin Game Two.
Ryan James will also aim to put behind him the disappointment of another Blues selection shun to lead his side out against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in what will be a 10th against 11th clash.
High-profile recruit Bryce Cartwright is set to complete another week in the ISC despite a standout last start performance for the Seagulls.
Cartwright played 80 minutes against Norths, running for 177m and delivering a line break assist.
“He went back there and played some decent football, which you’d expect at that level,” Brennan said.
“He needs to just keep showing me that on a consistent basis and if he does that, then obviously he is going to be pushing for an NRL recall.”
In other news, Max King underwent shoulder surgery yesterday.