Halves’ return key for Titans
TITANS forward Kevin Proctor says the game management of Ashley Taylor and Tyrone Roberts will be invaluable against the Warriors as they aim to secure their maiden win of the NRL season.
Halves Taylor and Roberts ran lightly in Auckland on Tuesday, completing the first step required if they’re to return from injury for tomorrow’s Mt Smart Stadium clash.
The pair were both named to start but neither is a certainty. They’ll need to come through another session today in convincing fashion.
Gifted halfback Taylor (quad) hasn’t played this season while Roberts (achilles) limped off early in the opening-round loss to Canberra.
AJ Brimson and Ryley Jacks haven’t imposed themselves behind some mixed efforts from the pack, with Proctor conceding the return of the Titans’ first-choice playmakers would make a difference.
“Yeah they will, a bit more experience in the halves,” he said. “Tyrone with his kicking game and Ash with his kicking game, it’s going to be secondto-none for us. They’d be welcomed back.”
Coach Garth Brennan was brutally honest about his team’s attack in the wake of Sunday’s 28-20 loss to Souths, even though the Titans impressed in the second half.
“We’re losing our way with our attack, I probably agree with that. We’re not polished when we’ve got the ball in hand,” Proctor said.
Kiwi international Proctor is familiar with numerous Warriors players and believes the hosts will be seething after heavy losses to Wests Tigers and Manly.
The battle of two teams desperate to arrest their early season woes will come down to attitude, Proctor said.
“I think we’re a bit more desperate than them but they’ll come out guns blazing.”
Statistics reveal Gold Coast’s preferred halves are almost twice as likely to break their side’s losing streak.
The Titans won 44 per cent of their games across 2016 when Taylor and Roberts started at halfback and fiveeighth respectively, but managed just 33 per cent with a different halves combination.
The same pair then delivered a 50 per cent record in 2017, however, Roberts played largely out of position that season, and Gold Coast won just 17 per cent of games with Taylor linking to a different playmaker.
Former Titans rake Karl Lawton will be charged with stopping them after Kiwi international Issac Luke was ruled out for the hosts.