Tamwelg
30-04-07, 08:30 AM
Source: www.gcbulletin.com.au
Prince reigns but no hope of Origin crown
Adam Gardini
30Apr07
TITANS coach John Cartwright last night conceded he felt sorry for brilliant halfback Scott Prince being stuck in the same era as dominant Australian halves Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston.
Prince confirmed his standing as one of the most dangerous ball players in the NRL at Gold Coast Stadium yesterday with another untouchable display for the Titans.
The former Queensland State of Origin halfback guided the Titans to their fourth win of the season, setting up five of their seven tries in yesterday's 38-12 hammering of Parramatta.
It has been a similar story all season for Prince and the Titans and despite the 27-year-old's stellar form, he faces the almost impossible task of dethroning Lockyer and Thurston for another crack at Origin football for Queensland.
Lockyer and Thurston have formed a formidable combination for the Maroons during the last two Origin series' and also for Australia at international level since last year's Tri-Nations.
"Halfbacks over decades, there always seem to be a good crop of halves," said Cartwright. "But at the moment you'd have to say he's definitely unlucky to be caught behind them.
"If Lockyer wasn't there Princey could play half and Thurston to five-eighth but they're not going to move Locky from No.6 and Thurston's the heir apparent so he's got to go in as well.
"You definitely feel for him but he's got over that stage.
"I think if he was a bit younger it might worry him a bit but he's done everything in the game and wants to do well for the club.
"You never know, opportunities may arise -- I saw he was on standby (for Australia) last week if anything happened and footy is a funny game, things can change from week to week."
Prince played for Queensland in all three matches during the 2004 Origin series before the emergence of Thurston as a top-class halfback after switching from five-eighth in his first season with the North Queensland Cowboys.
While admitting it was difficult knowing he was stuck behind the Australian halves combination, the Titans' co-captain said he was gaining endless amounts of satisfaction out of his leadership role for the Gold Coast during their historic first season.
"It is hard. Once you've had a taste of that sort of footy (Origin) you definitely want more but at the moment it's a difficult situation playing behind two Australian halves," said Prince.
"But at the end of the day, what I'm satisfied with is playing well for my team, and I'm happy with that. If I concentrate on things outside of what I can control I think it takes the focus off your football and what you're doing here at the club.
"All I can do is play good, consistent football and every player will tell you that, but you've just got to wait.
"Injuries do happen. You don't wish them on anybody but there's a chance of that happening throughout the series.
"Both Thurston and Locky are playing outstanding footy so all I've got to do is sit and wait."
In a scary thought, Prince added that his drive to perfect his game was also providing him with motivation every week in the NRL.
"I know I can improve and that's what I want to do," he said.
"The coaches want a perfect game of football and as a player I want the perfect game of football, with no missed tackles and all the rest of it.
"I work on my game every week and I want to get better."
Cartwright said Prince had been leading by example on and off the field since joining the Titans.
"I'm really happy with the responsibility he's taken on his shoulders," he said. "He's a real leader and you need that. Not just being a new club, you need that at any club.
"The way he's come through that ankle injury, he's a thorough professional and the blokes are really feeding off him."
Prince reigns but no hope of Origin crown
Adam Gardini
30Apr07
TITANS coach John Cartwright last night conceded he felt sorry for brilliant halfback Scott Prince being stuck in the same era as dominant Australian halves Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston.
Prince confirmed his standing as one of the most dangerous ball players in the NRL at Gold Coast Stadium yesterday with another untouchable display for the Titans.
The former Queensland State of Origin halfback guided the Titans to their fourth win of the season, setting up five of their seven tries in yesterday's 38-12 hammering of Parramatta.
It has been a similar story all season for Prince and the Titans and despite the 27-year-old's stellar form, he faces the almost impossible task of dethroning Lockyer and Thurston for another crack at Origin football for Queensland.
Lockyer and Thurston have formed a formidable combination for the Maroons during the last two Origin series' and also for Australia at international level since last year's Tri-Nations.
"Halfbacks over decades, there always seem to be a good crop of halves," said Cartwright. "But at the moment you'd have to say he's definitely unlucky to be caught behind them.
"If Lockyer wasn't there Princey could play half and Thurston to five-eighth but they're not going to move Locky from No.6 and Thurston's the heir apparent so he's got to go in as well.
"You definitely feel for him but he's got over that stage.
"I think if he was a bit younger it might worry him a bit but he's done everything in the game and wants to do well for the club.
"You never know, opportunities may arise -- I saw he was on standby (for Australia) last week if anything happened and footy is a funny game, things can change from week to week."
Prince played for Queensland in all three matches during the 2004 Origin series before the emergence of Thurston as a top-class halfback after switching from five-eighth in his first season with the North Queensland Cowboys.
While admitting it was difficult knowing he was stuck behind the Australian halves combination, the Titans' co-captain said he was gaining endless amounts of satisfaction out of his leadership role for the Gold Coast during their historic first season.
"It is hard. Once you've had a taste of that sort of footy (Origin) you definitely want more but at the moment it's a difficult situation playing behind two Australian halves," said Prince.
"But at the end of the day, what I'm satisfied with is playing well for my team, and I'm happy with that. If I concentrate on things outside of what I can control I think it takes the focus off your football and what you're doing here at the club.
"All I can do is play good, consistent football and every player will tell you that, but you've just got to wait.
"Injuries do happen. You don't wish them on anybody but there's a chance of that happening throughout the series.
"Both Thurston and Locky are playing outstanding footy so all I've got to do is sit and wait."
In a scary thought, Prince added that his drive to perfect his game was also providing him with motivation every week in the NRL.
"I know I can improve and that's what I want to do," he said.
"The coaches want a perfect game of football and as a player I want the perfect game of football, with no missed tackles and all the rest of it.
"I work on my game every week and I want to get better."
Cartwright said Prince had been leading by example on and off the field since joining the Titans.
"I'm really happy with the responsibility he's taken on his shoulders," he said. "He's a real leader and you need that. Not just being a new club, you need that at any club.
"The way he's come through that ankle injury, he's a thorough professional and the blokes are really feeding off him."