Schoolboy deal boon for Titans
THE Gold Coast Titans have moved to shore up rugby league-rich Logan City from the Broncos and the threat of an encroaching Queenslandbased 17th NRL team by formalising a relationship with schoolboy powerhouse Marsden SHS.
Cameron Smith’s old school will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gold Coast that will give its players access to the Titans’ facilities.
The school, which has Smith, Israel Folau, Jayden Su’A, Brenko Lee, Corey Allan, Antonio Winterstein and Chris Sandow as alumni, is one of the Langer Cup’s heavy lifters.
Marsden SHS rugby league students will have access to training facilities, coaching and off-field assistance, while the school coaches will have access to the Titans brains trust.
In return, the Titans hope they will build relationships with players and the Logan community and have a better chance of securing elite rookies on junior contracts.
“You would be pretty ignorant not to realise that this is one of the biggest talent nurseries in the country,’’ Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said.
CAMERON Smith is the oldest player in the NRL but there is no doubt in former representative teammate David Shillington’s mind that the Melbourne Storm great has more left in the tank.
At 37 he is 618 days older than next-eldest South Sydney half Benji Marshall, but like Marshall the man dubbed ‘The Accountant’ has evolved with the game to ensure his ability to contribute is as relevant as ever.
The secret to Smith’s success is that his footballing brain has always been his primary weapon.
He was never the hyperathlete so in many ways he would be just as potent in his turning-38 season as he was at 30.
“I think he’s been tapering off (physically) already but that’s not to say his impact is,” Shillington said.
“He’s always adjusting the physical side of his game. Where Cameron excels, why he has had such great longevity, is he’s never going to be a battering ram in the middle.
“He’ll never fold someone in half in a tackle or steamroll someone but that doesn’t mean he can’t defend.
“His strength is kicking, passing, direction play, motivating players, keeping people calm and stable. And he does that better than anyone.”