Titans Coach Justin Holbrook admits there are still a number of Round 1 positions up for grabs as the Gold Coast get ready for the club’s final trial match, against the Broncos tomorrow night at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe.
Holbrook will have all his fully-fit players out on the field tomorrow night, and while a few positions for the season-opener against the Raiders have been locked down, there is an opportunity for a number of players to stake their claim and force their way into the Round 1 team for the trip to Canberra.
“It will play a part,” Holbrook said about the weight of trial match performances.
“Obviously there are some positions locked in, but there are still positions up for grabs.”
The Titans will take on a near full-strength Broncos outfit but Holbrook is more focused on his own side and implementing on what has been worked on over the pre-season.
“That’s the upside for us, we have a lot of improvement in us this year,” Holbrook said.
“We’ll get a good look tomorrow night, and then we’ll have two weeks to work it out ahead of kick-off.”
After a couple of disjointed weeks with the NRL Nines and All-Stars match taking players away from the group, Holbrook is happy the entire squad can now focus on the start of the NRL season.
“I think it’s good that the group is back together,” he said.
“It’s good for the team that we are back together before this trial.”
There are some noticeable omissions in Shannon Boyd (shoulder), AJ Brimson (back) and Moeaki Fotuaika (knee) from the trial side that will play the Broncos, but Holbrook is confident they will all be available in Round 1.
“AJ has a slight back issue. He’s running so it’s nothing major,” he said.
“I’d rather give him a few more weeks. He’s an important part of our team.
“Same with Boyd. It’s a slight shoulder issue, but he’ll be ok. Moe just isn’t quite right either.”
Tickets are still available for the tomorrow night’s match and can be purchased here.
