FROM BOYD TO A MAN

GOLD Coast’s marquee recruit Shannon Boyd admits he needs to earn respect at his new club with the former Test prop under mounting pressure to live up to his $600,000 price tag at the Titans.

The 126kg enforcer enters tonight’s clash against the Warriors a self-confessed figure of “frustration” after struggling to muscle up in midfield in three consecutive defeats that have left the Titans at the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Trumpeted as the standover man the Titans pack craved, Boyd has been stood down – relegated to interchange for last week’s 28-20 loss to Souths and benched again for tonight’s Round 4 clash at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium.

No NRL club can afford to carry one of their highest-paid players on the bench but Boyd cannot argue after running for just 77m in consecutive weeks against Cronulla and his former club Canberra.

Stung by his demotion, Boyd was better against the Rabbitohs, amassing 119m with one line-break, but says he won’t be truly satisfied until he delivers on his reputation.

“I’m frustrated at the moment,” said Boyd, who joined the Titans on a four-year, $2.4 million deal. “I honestly need to play better footy here and earn some respect in the club.

“I have been brought here as a new recruit and the fans and the players expect certain performances from me.

“As middle forwards we need to do a better job. We need to get a better roll on for our halves and be more aggressive and a lot of that comes down to me.

“I’m not where I want to be. To be honest, I’m a long way from where I need to be. “I’ve got a lot of work to do.” Boyd’s trial form demonstrated his Titans importance.

The Gold Coast’s biggest player belted the Broncos in midfield in the opening 20 minutes of their final pre-season hitout at Robina. The result? An 18-0 lead.

With the Warriors hurting after a 46-12 mauling by Manly last week, Boyd is keen to reprise the brutal running game that won him a maiden Australian jumper three years ago.

“I’ve been doing a lot of defence but I’m not making enough impact with my carries,” he said.