A fit and firing Brenko Lee is piling the pressure on Titans cult hero Anthony Don to retain his place on Gold Coast's right wing when they commence their season against the Raiders on March 17.
Lee was one of the Titans' strongest contributors playing at left centre in their 22-16 trial loss to the Cowboys on Saturday while Don had a number of effective carries on a torturous night for players under the high ball.
New recruit Tyrone Peachey will wear Titans colours for the first time in this Saturday's trial against the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium and with Brian Kelly displaying his class against North Queensland the wing spots are among the most contentious.
Needing just one more try to surpass David Mead as the Titans' all-time leading try-scorer, Don has been the club's leading try-scorer in four of the past five years and is coming off an injury-free pre-season.
A classical, long-striding winger, Don's one failing is in generating momentum early in sets from deep in his side's half, an area in which Lee excels.
The 23-year-old has played the bulk of his 47 matches at centre but has scored nine tries in 10 games on the wing, and is ready to throw down the challenge to fan-favourite Don for a spot in the starting side.
"I felt good personally," Lee said following the first hit-out of 2019.
"I'll play anywhere on the footy field. To be in the 17 is a blessing to me personally.
"I don't care if I play in the forwards or in the backs, I'll put my hand up to play anywhere.
"I'm team-first and if I'm being seen as a winger at the moment I'll take that."
Powerhouse Phillip Sami is considered a lock for the left wing with experienced first-grader Dale Copley and former Rabbitoh Jesse Arthars also vying for spots in the three-quarter line for round one.
And the competition amongst the outside backs could soon get even tougher with Ipswich State High product and former Queensland under-18 representative Treymain Spry on the verge of being offered a full-time contract.
Coach Garth Brennan was particularly impressed by the work of Lee against the Cowboys and knows he is facing some difficult decisions leading up to the start of the season proper.
"Brenko Lee had some really good touches," Brennan said post-game.
"He's strong and he's fit at the moment. You can see when Brenko carries the ball that he's strong and got great footwork and went looking for work.
"Phil Sami and Don were good and we've still got some guys that didn't play that can come into the equation.
"It's a good headache to have."
Brennan discusses Titans halves options
As he fights for his own position within the team, Lee spoke highly of the impact Spry and the other young members of the squad had in the second half on Saturday.
"I thought Tremaine did awesome, all our outside backs did awesome," said the former Raider and Bulldog.
"Garth was massive on us running hard and tackling hard, that's what he wanted. He didn't care about the scoreboard, whether we got flogged or won by heaps. He just wanted us to run hard and tackle hard and I thought we did that well.
"Even the younger boys that came on in the later minutes, I thought they ran hard and tackled hard so I'm very happy for them."
