Anthony Don is not a rugby league dinosaur, he’s just a throwback to when wingers didn’t challenge the props in the weights room.
The equal leading tryscorer in Titans history with David Mead on 67, Don is in danger of being overlooked for Garth Brennan’s round-one team to face the Raiders on March 17.
With Brenko Lee, 23, and Phillip Sami, 21, named on the wing for the Titans' final trial against the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday, Don will come from the bench in jersey No.20.
It’s an unfamiliar number for the reigning Members Player of the Year and 2017 Paul Broughton Medallist but he insists that while he doesn’t fit the current mould, he still has a place in the game.
The 31-year-old has enjoyed an injury-free pre-season and feels significantly stronger than he did 12 months ago when he came back from a shoulder reconstruction but still just barely tips the scales over the 100-kilogram mark.
The likes of Ken Maumalo and Nene Macdonald are up to 10 kilograms heavier than Don and while he is difficult to catch in open space and is a classy finisher, it is the work required of wingers on early tackles where he loses ground.
And he knows it.
“There’s definitely more 100-kilo plus wingers, solid nuggets,” Don told NRL.com.
“Each have got their own advantages. Being tall you’ve probably got a better catch and can dive a bit more and the nuggety guys have probably got a stronger carry.
“You’ve got to work on your strengths and try and limit your weaknesses.
“There are different ways of doing it. The big, powerful guys like Koni (Hurrell), he could just run it straight and knock anyone out of the way.
“I’ve got to use a bit of footwork and pick who I’m running at, use a bit of late feet and get to the ground after contact.
“There are a lot of different strategies to try and get a quick play-the-ball and for wingers it’s an important part of the game and something I’m always looking to improve on.”
Although he has preferred Lee over Don in the starting side for Saturday’s trial, Brennan has not closed the door on the 110-game veteran running out on the right wing in round one.
“Last weekend Brenko Lee probably outplayed him but ‘Donny’ gets the chance to wrestle that jumper back," Brennan said.
“I’m a big fan of Anthony Don. He’s a real pro, very solid on the wing, you know he does his job.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll be putting plenty of pressure back on there tomorrow to get involved, to wrestle that spot back, and get his NRL spot back for round one.”
New recruit Shannon Boyd missed Friday’s captain’s run so he could be best man at a friend’s wedding but will make his club debut on Saturday, as will former Panther Tyrone Peachey.
Ipswich product and former Rooster Treymain Spry will also play on Saturday having been signed to a full-time contract.
