Kelly vital to the Titans

Arrow says centre adds class to Gold Coast team

THE Gold Coast Titans’ season is yet to gain traction but the form of centre Brian Kelly gives hope they will soon turn the corner.

Kelly’s two-try effort in the Titans’ 28-20 loss to Souths on Sunday impressed his tireless teammate Jai Arrow

“He’s shown he is a class player and a strong carrier of the ball – I’m really glad we got him,’’ Arrow said of the former Manly player who returned to the Coast to be closer to family at Ballina in northern NSW.

“Brian got an opportunity to come home and he took it with both hands with a good pre-season.’’

Kelly, 22, played finals in his first year in the NRL with Manly in 2017.

He said would have happily stayed at the Sea Eagles had he not been released to fill a Titans vacancy left by Konrad Hurrell’s departure.

“I’m enjoying being back home and looking forward to the rest of the season,’’ said Kelly, who gave Souths trouble on Sunday.

“I definitely want to make the top eight again and go deep into the finals when we get there. The coach (Garth Brennan) said we are only one win out of the eight. It’s definitely doable still.’’

The Titans were on the wrong end of a 9-1 penalty count on Sunday but Brennan didn’t query the lopsided tally.

“We have to be more disciplined against a quality side. They are warranted penalties. I can’t argue,’’ he said.

“Were they squeaky clean? I don’t know.’’

Kelly said Brennan had restrained himself to a “few angry points about our discipline” after the game.

“He told us how our completion at the start wasn’t the best but we showed the desire to get the win was definitely there,’’ Kelly said.

The Titans, without a win after three rounds, will today include Ash Taylor (quad) for the first time this year and Tyrone Roberts in an extended squad ahead of the game against the Warriors in Auckland on Friday night.