Elliot’s switch off the agenda

GOLD Coast utility Brendan Elliot will not be granted a release by the Titans, leaving English side Leigh with egg on their face after they trumpeted the signing of the 24-year-old for the rest of the season.

English Championship club Leigh jumped the gun on announcing Elliot would join the club for their late-season push towards Super League promotion, posting on their website the versatile back had gained a release from the Titans.

While talks were ongoing behind the scenes, a seasonending hamstring injury to Dale Copley and neck injury to Tyronne Roberts-Davis mean the Titans’ stocks in the backs are perilously low and coach Garth Brennan confirmed Elliot would not be leaving.

While clubs usually try to accommodate request from players where possible, Brennan said the needs of the Titans had to come first.

“At this stage I don’t think he will be (released),” he said.

“Dale Copley has gone for the season and Tyronne Roberts-Davis sustained an injury at Burleigh at training that may see him out for a lengthy period of time.

“And if that’s the case we just can’t afford to let Brendan go at this point.”

A Runaway Bay junior, Elliot joined the Titans from Newcastle last year but has played just two games.

He has been named on an extended bench for tomorrow’s clash against the

Knights.

Roberts-Davis suffered neck ligament damage in a training accident at Burleigh last week that could keep him out for the rest of the season.

“He’s got some significant damage there, nothing structural but some ligament damage – and the neck’s something very serious too, so we won’t be rushing him (back) in any way, shape or form,” Brennan said.

“That was a little bit to do with the situation about Brendan and not letting him go at this point.”

Elliot can play in the

WE JUST CAN’T AFFORD TO LET BRENDAN GO AT THIS POINT GARTH BRENNAN ON ELLIOT

centres, at fullback or wing but has not yet hit his straps on the Gold Coast.

The Titans are skinny in the centres and were rumoured to have been in talks with Canterbury’s Josh Morris recently before he signed with the Sharks for 2019. But Brennan said he had made no offer to the former NSW Blue.

“I get asked to meet with a lot of players in all different positions,” he said.

“There was no offer made to Josh. I met with him in Sydney at one stage on the request of his management and on the request of (the Titans).

“And I do that with a lot of players in different positions.”