Titans forward Bryce Cartwright says he is working on his defence to give Senior Coach Craig Hodges another option in the middle of the field after showing promise at lock against the Broncos last weekend.
Cartwright was demoted to the bench for the Queensland derby after some costly defensive lapses the week before against the Melbourne Storm, and came on in the second half against the Broncos in the middle of the field, rather than his usual left-edge.
While he still sees himself as an edge back-rower, Cartwright admits the freedom to roam both side of the field from lock forward makes the No.13 a more enticing proposition.
Cartwright’s ability to offload in traffic and play a distributor role would make him an effective weapon in the middle of the field against tiring defence.
But he says his immediate challenge is reclaiming his spot in the Titans’ starting team and being more effective with his defence.
“I know what I need to do. It is pretty simple,” Cartwright said. “I had a pretty poor miss against Brodie Croft I think it was (in the game against the Storm).
“It is pretty simple. I just need to not miss those crucial tackles in a game, and I am sure I will be back where I want to be.
“The plan (against the Broncos) was for me to come onto the left edge, but the way it just worked out I got on in the middle.
“I am not too fussed where I play.
“I probably always see myself out on the right-hand side of the field more when I am in the middle. I carry the ball in my right hand, so I always seem to float out there.
The plan was for me to come onto the left edge, but the way it just worked out I got on in the middle. I am not to fussed where I play.
It was pretty easy coming onto the middle at that time of the game – the boys wore out the Broncos boys a fair bit. It wasn't as hard as the start of the game would have been.
I will go wherever he needs me to go.
