Tamwelg
03-06-08, 08:23 AM
Davis a chance to earn Titans debut
Pat Mcleod
03Jun08
SCOTT Prince's likely State of Origin recall today may result in a dream Titans NRL debut for Seagulls captain Brad Davis.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright will this morning sift through his options for Monday night's showdown with the Storm, and the shock elevation of Davis is emerging as a distinct possibility.
Cartwright yesterday was reluctant to show his hand too early but he did indicate that Davis was in his calculations.
The 26-year-old was recruited to the Gold Coast from Werris Creek, in NSW, almost a decade ago by scouting guru Tom Searle, father of Titans managing director Michael Searle.
Searle Jnr has a huge opinion of Davis.
"Yes, both Dad and I think very highly of him," said Michael Searle.
"I think he is a very real option against the Storm. The way he controls the State League team shows his class.
"There has always been a thought process from our point of view that Brad would get a chance at some stage.
"I don't see that as being out of the realms of possibility. I think he would do a grand job.
"He has a great kicking game, good organisational skills, and has a cool head. He has all the traits that could see him playing in first grade.
"He trained with the first grade squad during the whole off-season and we would not invest in him, in that regard, if we were not going to give him an opportunity.
"I think there are a couple of different scenarios that Carty would look at.
"I think the key is usually that you would not make too many changes. Presto (Preston Campbell) could play seven, but has been playing so well at fullback Carty may be reluctant to move him."
With Mat Rogers still struggling to overcome a rib injury, Ashley Harrison is likely to stay at five-eighth to reduce the number of changes.
In the forwards the Titans will lose Anthony Laffranchi to the NSW Origin team, but have the depth to cover him.
Davis's quality was confirmed yesterday when he was named as the captain of the Queensland Residents team, which will take on their NSW counterparts as the curtain-raiser to Origin 2 next Wednesday.
He said an NRL call-up would be the realisation of a dream.
"Of course I am still hungry to play NRL, just one game," he said.
"If I was given the chance it would be a massive opportunity, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
"If Carty thinks it is the right call, then great, but he has other options such as Josh Lewis, who has also been in great form."
If Davis was called up it would be another vote of confidence in the Titans Queensland Cup feeder system.
Burleigh Bears winger Jordan Atkins walked a similar path to Davis last year, training with the Titans while playing Queensland Cup.
He impressed Cartwright so much that he was given the green light for the opening match of the 2008 NRL season and scored four tries on debut.
"I think Jordan was a great example to all Queensland Cup players," said Davis. "He showed the dream can be realised. You just have to keep working, believe in yourself and take chances."
www.goldcoast.com.au
Pat Mcleod
03Jun08
SCOTT Prince's likely State of Origin recall today may result in a dream Titans NRL debut for Seagulls captain Brad Davis.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright will this morning sift through his options for Monday night's showdown with the Storm, and the shock elevation of Davis is emerging as a distinct possibility.
Cartwright yesterday was reluctant to show his hand too early but he did indicate that Davis was in his calculations.
The 26-year-old was recruited to the Gold Coast from Werris Creek, in NSW, almost a decade ago by scouting guru Tom Searle, father of Titans managing director Michael Searle.
Searle Jnr has a huge opinion of Davis.
"Yes, both Dad and I think very highly of him," said Michael Searle.
"I think he is a very real option against the Storm. The way he controls the State League team shows his class.
"There has always been a thought process from our point of view that Brad would get a chance at some stage.
"I don't see that as being out of the realms of possibility. I think he would do a grand job.
"He has a great kicking game, good organisational skills, and has a cool head. He has all the traits that could see him playing in first grade.
"He trained with the first grade squad during the whole off-season and we would not invest in him, in that regard, if we were not going to give him an opportunity.
"I think there are a couple of different scenarios that Carty would look at.
"I think the key is usually that you would not make too many changes. Presto (Preston Campbell) could play seven, but has been playing so well at fullback Carty may be reluctant to move him."
With Mat Rogers still struggling to overcome a rib injury, Ashley Harrison is likely to stay at five-eighth to reduce the number of changes.
In the forwards the Titans will lose Anthony Laffranchi to the NSW Origin team, but have the depth to cover him.
Davis's quality was confirmed yesterday when he was named as the captain of the Queensland Residents team, which will take on their NSW counterparts as the curtain-raiser to Origin 2 next Wednesday.
He said an NRL call-up would be the realisation of a dream.
"Of course I am still hungry to play NRL, just one game," he said.
"If I was given the chance it would be a massive opportunity, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
"If Carty thinks it is the right call, then great, but he has other options such as Josh Lewis, who has also been in great form."
If Davis was called up it would be another vote of confidence in the Titans Queensland Cup feeder system.
Burleigh Bears winger Jordan Atkins walked a similar path to Davis last year, training with the Titans while playing Queensland Cup.
He impressed Cartwright so much that he was given the green light for the opening match of the 2008 NRL season and scored four tries on debut.
"I think Jordan was a great example to all Queensland Cup players," said Davis. "He showed the dream can be realised. You just have to keep working, believe in yourself and take chances."
www.goldcoast.com.au