Cartwright means business with prize offer
Travis Meyn | September 13 2013, 6:03am
THE Titans will field their best possible side in next year's Auckland Nines with coach John Cartwright declaring the Gold Coast is intent on winning the inaugural event.
Cartwright has promised to pick the likes of excitement machines Albert Kelly, David Mead, Kevin Gordon and Dave Taylor in the $2 million pre-season tournament, provided they are fit.
But hooker Matt Srama is likely to miss out as he faces six months on the sidelines because of a shoulder reconstruction.
Srama will go under the knife next week after dislocating his right shoulder in the final round loss to Melbourne last weekend.
Beau Falloon (toe), Luke Douglas (shoulder) and Brad Takairangi (ankle) are also scheduled for off-season surgery, however none are as serious as Srama's.
Cartwright said the Titans would be taking the nine-a-side tournament in February seriously with a $450,000 prize for the winner.
"There's no trials that weekend so it's not any extra play. There'll be less impact in a nines game than a normal game," he said.
"We'll be fielding the best side we can. We can take 16 players so the loads won't be a problem.
"It's certainly decent prize money and we'll be shooting hard for it."
The Titans begin pre-season training on November 4 however a host of players have decided to start their 2014 preparations next week.
The club has organised gym memberships in a bid to keep the players fresh and away from their normal headquarters.
Srama's injury is a crushing blow for the diminutive rake who is facing another injury-plagued pre-season.
Falloon is challenging him as the Titans' first-choice hooker but Cartwright said the 22-year-old was remaining positive.
"It's disappointing he won't get the off-season we would have liked with him.
"He's got a lot of work in front of him," he said.
Co-captain Greg Bird won the Brad Fittler Medal on Wednesday night as the NSW State of Origin player of the year.
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