Late bloomer Anthony Don could play centre for the Titans

[Titan4Life]

Late bloomer Anthong Don could play as a centre for the Gold Coast Titans
TERRY WILSON GOLD COAST BULLETIN
DECEMBER 09, 2014 10:20AM 2

THE Titans underrated “Mr Fixit” Anthony Don could find himself moved a little closer to the action for next year’s NRL season.

Regarded as a specialist winger, Don has been given the chance to trial as a centre by new Titans coach Neil Henry and is looking forward to a move that will serve to reinforce his value to the club.

“I guess calling me (Mr Fixit) is pretty accurate because I haven’t really cemented my position,” Don, 27, said.

“But I haven’t really started a season yet, so that’s my main goal — to try to play every game of the NRL season.

“I played the last game of this year at centre and Neil has asked me to train a bit in centre for the pre-season and try to add another string to my bow and be able to play both positions.”

In AFL circles Don would be called a mature-aged rookie, yet he finished the season as leading tryscorer for the Titans and earned a reputation for *reliability under pressure, rarely making mistakes.

He did not enter the NRL system until he was 25 after moving from Grafton to play Queensland Cup for Burleigh before his elevation to the *Titans.

“There were guys younger than me who had played 80 to 90 NRL games, so that put them in good shape against someone who hadn’t played much at all,” Don said.

“So hopefully next year I’ll have a change of luck and I can start the season.”

Another of the Titans “Mr Versatile”, regular fullback Will Zillman, has declined to comment about the arrival of former Brisbane Broncos custodian Josh Hoffman.

Zillman acknowledges the recruiting of NRL regulars such as Hoffman will only serve to heat up competition for places in the side, he remains coy about his situation.

“No, I don’t really want to talk about that,” Zillman said before joining a PGA Championship promotion with Don and golfers Steven Bowditch and American Boo Weekley at Royal Pines yesterday.

Don and Zillman fared better than Bowditch and Weekley when they tried kicking a ball through setup uprights.

[5 Year Contract]

Fantastic news! Don was extremely solid (especially good under the high ball) last year except for the occasional defensive lapse or misread. Hopefully he locks down the centre spot and really gets the opportunity to gain some good experience as he has massive potential. I'm liking everything im hearing out of this preseason just need a major sponsor!

[Titan4Life]

Fantastic news! Don was extremely solid (especially good under the high ball) last year except for the occasional defensive lapse or misread. Hopefully he locks down the centre spot and really gets the opportunity to gain some good experience as he has massive potential. I'm liking everything im hearing out of this preseason just need a major sponsor!

Agreed. I really hope we see as much as possible of Don next year. Don't care if it's on the wing or in the centres, just put him somewhere Neil! He deserves to be first picked every week.

[karnage]

He struggles defensively on the wing, he'd be shocking in the centres.

[Toads]

Maybe.. but I tend to think he has a bit on Zillman 'n Gordon, defensively. Plus the Don seem to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time, whenever we create a line break on our right edge.

I'd give him a shot at it (centre), for a bit.

[Titan4Life]

He struggles defensively on the wing, he'd be shocking in the centres.

I disagree. I think Don is a fairly solid defender. Not the best but also not terrible. As Toads said, he can defend better than some of our other centre options. I'm willing to give him a crack.

[Mexican titan]

Agreed. I really hope we see as much as possible of Don next year. Don't care if it's on the wing or in the centres, just put him somewhere Neil! He deserves to be first picked every week.

I think he is a top winger but I haven't seen anything to make me think he would be a good centre. Prefer not to weaken one position to fix another and hopefully the "specialist" centres will step up.

[JunctionBlock]

Sounds more like we are looking for depth in our backs so we don't have to use second rowers. I like it. Personally think Don was our must consistent player all year.

[Titan4Life]

Titans' Don eyes centre stage
By Tony Webeck, Chief Queensland Correspondent
NRL.com
6:00am Fri 19th December, 2014

http://www.nrl.com/Portals/NRL/images/39/39725_20_2.jpg

A confident Anthony Don has expressed his intention to push for a centre spot for the Titans' opening game of the season against the Wests Tigers, with coach Neil Henry assuring him that he will be given every opportunity to prove himself.

At 27 years of age and with his only NRL game in the centres coming in Round 26 this year against the Bulldogs, Don would seem an unlikely candidate to cover such an important position but Henry says it is somewhat unusual path to the top grade that will hold him in good stead.

After studying teaching at university – where he twice represented the Australian Universities team – Don went back to his hometown of Grafton where he set point-scoring records and earned a shot with Burleigh in the Intrust Super Cup where he was named their 2011 Player of the Year.

That earned him a two-year deal with the Titans but having signed on again midway through this year through until the end of the 2016 season, Don says he is now ready to become a permanent first-grader, starting in Round 1.

"I've never played a Round 1 game. That's my main goal for the pre-season, to be in the team for Round 1," said Don, who has scored 16 tries in 28 NRL games over the past two years.

"I signed for a further two years and when I finished as a junior I never expected to get this far and probably thought that the NRL dream was over but I've been lucky enough to keep working hard and find myself in the spot I'm in now.

"With each NRL game you play you get more confident and you feel as though you belong out there. Also there were a few injuries to the other boys, which was unfortunate for them, but it gave me an opportunity and I just tried to make the most of it."

Marking up against Test and Origin centre Josh Morris in the Titans' thrilling one-point win in Round 26, Don's defensive capabilities caught the eye of Henry, the coach attributing his protracted path to the NRL for sound decision-making on the field.

"I like the fact that he has had the journey and he's played his country footy and his relaxed nature," Henry told NRL.com.

"He's not about the hype associated with playing in the NRL and he's always quite keen to get back home and mix with the locals so he's quite laid back that way which makes him quite relaxed on the field.

"That doesn't mean he's not 100 per cent committed to his footy, he is, and he's a bit of a late bloomer and I don't think we've seen his full potential yet. He's just been introduced to the weekly grind of full-time training and playing football so hopefully we'll see the best out of him this season.

"Anthony has a good knack of being a pretty solid defender. He doesn't panic out on the field, very relaxed by nature anyway, and that transfers onto the field. He's handled the defensive role very well the times when he's played in the centres so I think he's quite keen to have a crack at that position and he'll get every opportunity.

"He has played some Queensland Cup games in the centres, he's played some fullback as well and I think sometimes he's a little bit wasted on the wing.

"He had a real good game against Morris in the last game against the Bulldogs, I was really happy with his effort in that game and he'd like to be a bit closer to the action himself."

Although the Steeden has been used sparingly in the first eight weeks of pre-season training, Don has already slotted into the centres in training drills, Henry looking for the right combination between Brad Tighe, James Roberts, Josh Hoffman, Will Zillman and David Mead.

Competition for wing spots is also strong at the Titans with Mead, Kevin Gordon and Kalifa Faifai Loa eyeing off selection in Round 1 but Don remains determined to show his wares one man in from the touchline.

"I'm happy to play anywhere that the coach puts me but I've talked to Neil about playing in the centres and I'm training in the centres for the off-season. I played the last game of the season in the centres so hopefully I can train hard and see how we go," he said.

"The main thing will be defensively. It's probably the hardest decision-making position defensively so working on that and then learning the lines you have to run in the centres."

[Mr Stupid]

"Although the Steeden has been used sparingly in the first eight weeks of pre-season training, Don has already slotted into the centres in training drills, Henry looking for the right combination between Brad Tighe, James Roberts, Josh Hoffman, Will Zillman and David Mead."

I had the pleasure of watching the boys train at Ballina Seagulls ground yesterday and Don was training in the centres throughout the session. Bit more detail in the preseason thread.

[Titan4Life]

Don becomes centre option for Titans:

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Anthony Don finished 2014 in the centres during an injury crisis and will be given a chance to move closer to the action during the trials.

He talks to Titans TV about the chance to show coach Neil Henry he is at home in the centres or the wing, having trained in both positions.

The Titans certainly have ample versatility in the outside backs with Don, David Mead, Josh Hoffman, James Roberts, Brad Tighe, Kevin Gordon and William Zillman all having played at least two positions in the NRL.

Watch what Don had to say.

[JunctionBlock]

It worries me every time I see this. Don was fantastic on the wing for us last year. A push into the centres tells me they are freeing up a wing spot. In other words Hoffman to wing Zillman to retain his Fullback spot. Henry keeps talking too highly of Zilly. Hopefully Hoffman plays like Mansour and comes in off his wing every set of six then that's the only silver lining I can see.

[Hail Sezer]

It worries me every time I see this. Don was fantastic on the wing for us last year. A push into the centres tells me they are freeing up a wing spot. In other words Hoffman to wing Zillman to retain his Fullback spot. Henry keeps talking too highly of Zilly. Hopefully Hoffman plays like Mansour and comes in off his wing every set of six then that's the only silver lining I can see.

I would be very concerned and very surprised if we were paying 400k/yr for a winger

[JunctionBlock]

I would be very concerned and very surprised if we were paying 400k/yr for a winger

I hope so, but I'm just saying....I'm nervous!

[Titanic]

I must say that if Zillman retains the fullback position then I will give up and return my membership with a note to Annesley. I am completely over p1sspoor decisions surrounding a bloke who trains like Superman and plays like Clark Kent.

[Titan4Life]

I must say that if Zillman retains the fullback position then I will give up and return my membership with a note to Annesley. I am completely over p1sspoor decisions surrounding a bloke who trains like Superman and plays like Clark Kent.

Absolutely. How Zillman keeps getting chance after chance is beyond me. For the last 3 years (or more) he has played **** with a few good games in between which somehow makes him retain his spot. Mead and Hoffman perform at training and carry it onto the field. The same can't be said for Zillman. As you said he trains like a beast but fails on the park where it matters. I am hoping Henry has enough sense to stop giving this guy chance after chance. Mead or Hoffman deserve to be wearing #1.

- - - Updated - - -

Right now my backline has so many unknowns. Trials will be a big factor for positions. I pray that Zillman plays shocking in the trials so Henry sends him packing to Burleigh (sorry Bears).

1. Hoffman/Mead
2. Gordon/Don/Fai-Fai Loa
3. Roberts
4. Don/Crampton/Hoffman
5. Mead/Don/Fai-Fai Loa

*sorry for it being confusing but I seriously have no idea until the trials :laugh: