FLASH’S YOUTH
TITAN THANKS NEXT GENERATION
THE Titans crop of rising stars are proving an elixir of youth for veteran fullback Michael Gordon who is determined to be a part of the Gold Coast’s exciting future.
The Tweed Coast Raiders junior returned home this season determined to play his part in rebuilding the Titans and has been inspired by the club’s crop of youngsters.
While the teen tyros like Moeaki Fotuaika, 18, and AJ Brimson, 19, have made Gordon feel every one of his 34 years, he said their presence around the club “actually makes you feel younger”.
“(We’ve got) young forwards, young backs, young halves, it’s just great being around them and they’re a ball of energy, make you laugh.
“It’s just good being around, especially being at home and having all my closest friends and family here, it’s been such an enjoyable year for me.”
Gordon said while he was happy in Sydney – he was released from the final year of his deal with the Roosters to join the Titans – there was nothing like being home.
“To get the opportunity to come back and play for the local team that wasn’t here when I first went down (to Sydney), I’m forever grateful to be able to come home and finish here,” he said.
Gordon has another year on his contract and has cemented his spot in the No.1 jersey, with his form set to prevent any push for Brimson to head to fullback.
Brimson is seen by many as a long-term fullback, something that has lent weight to this week’s rumours Corey Norman could be headed to the Gold Coast.
But coach Garth Brennan said Brimson would need significant time preparing to make the switch and saw any move as unlikely before Gordon retired.
“For AJ to move to fullback he would need a full preseason on the defensive side of things,” Brennan said.
“There’s no doubt attackwise he’d handle it quite comfortably but getting numbers right and knowing when you should and shouldn’t put yourself in the line as fullback, there’s a real art to it.”
Gordon will face another former club Parramatta tomorrow and said the Eels would be desperate to avoid the wooden spoon.
“I’ve been in that position before and it’s hard because it seems like the harder you try, the worse things go,” he said.
“We’ve got our own goals we’re playing for, so we’re not going down there thinking it’s going to be an easy game because I know first-hand it’s going to be one of our hardest games for the year.”