Aquis Titans coach Neil Henry has named his strongest squad of the season to face the Penrith Panthers at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night.
After months of stretching his resources in a number of positions, the head coach finally has impressive depth at his disposal with halfback Ash Taylor picked to return from injury in what is effectively a finals qualifier against the seventh-placed Panthers.
Taylor’s comeback, combined with the successful return of Tyrone Roberts in Newcastle, prompted a backline reshuffle that resulted in Jarryd Hayne’s switch from five-eighth to fullback.
David Mead has been named on an extended interchange bench.
While the match day 17 will not be settled until later in the week, Henry said the tough selection call at fullback sent a message that no player has a mortgage on his position as the side chases a finals berth.
Barely six weeks ago backrower Chris McQueen was playing in the centres but now Gold Coast has some rich stocks to call on.
The forward pack is equally strong, with try-scoring trio Ryan James, Luke Douglas and McQueen all chosen in the run-on side.
The Aquis Titans team to play Penrith Panthers is:
1 – Jarryd Hayne
2 – Anthony Don
3 – Josh Hoffman
4 – Konrad Hurrell
5 - Nene Macdonald
6 – Tyrone Roberts
7 – Ash Taylor
8 – Luke Douglas
9 – Nathan Peats
10 – Ryan James
11 – Zeb Taia
12 – Chris McQueen
13 – Greg Bird
INTERCHANGE
14 – David Shillington
15 – Ryan Simpkins
16 – Agnatius Paasi
17 – Nathan Friend
18 – David Mead
19 – Leivaha Pulu
