Zac Spring will make his long-awaited return in the Gold Training under-20s side against Newcastle Knights today after being out for more than three months with a spleen problem.
In-form Greg Lelesiuao is out with injury but the Titans are fortunate to have a readymade replacement in Spring who was in fine form in the first five rounds before being sidelined with the injury.
Karl Lawton also returns to the side after playing the last three rounds for Tweed Heads in the Instrust Super Cup. He will start at hooker in place of Delayne Ashby.
The rest of the team is intact for the clash with the eleventh-placed Knights who have slipped down the ladder since a good start to the season and have won only three of their nine home games this season.
The Knights won the round three clash 19-18 after Delayne Ashby failed to nail a conversion kick after the siren had gone. But the Titans played almost half the match with just 13 fit players and would have almost certainly had their third successive win to start the season if not for misfortunate that day.
They head to Newcastle with renewed confidence and in the same scenario of chasing a third straight victory against the Knights.
“We know we can trouble any team and hopefully the confidence the boys have gained in the past couple of weeks will stand us in good stead,” said coach Ben Woolf.
“We know for us it’s about keeping possession, being aggressive and consistent in defence and staying in the wrestle; that’s when we’re most effective.”
The Gold Training NYC team is:
1 - Shaun Hudson (capt)
2 – Brian Kelly
3 – Rory Humphreys
4 - Josh Berkers
18 – Zac Spring
6 – Daniel Schwass
7 - Brayden Torpy
8 – Oshae Tuiasua
21 – Karl Lawton
10 - Max Elliott
11 - Shane Wright
12 - Hayden Schwass
13 - Parahi Wilson (capt)
Interchange:
14 – Shane Gillham
15 - Daymeric Pelo
16 – Rhys Duke
17 – Chris Law
