Zillman back to lead finals assault
Travis Meyn | August 17 2013, 12:01am
THE Titans are planning a surprise attack on the Cowboys with elusive fullback William Zillman to be rushed back into the side for tonight's critical encounter.
Zillman passed a fitness test late yesterday in Townsville and will play his first game in seven weeks after overcoming a groin injury.
While David Mead has done an admirable job in his absence, Zillman was one of the form fullbacks of the competition before being sidelined and his injection into the line-up will provide the Titans with some much-needed firepower as they look to keep their finals hopes alive.
The team had cancelled a training run planned in Townsville but ended up having a light walk-through yesterday afternoon as coach John Cartwright looked to finalise his team with a final decision on the make-up of the 17 to be made today.
''We've got a few options there but we'll keep it close to our chest until an hour before kick-off,'' Cartwright said.
''He's naturally very fit. He's the fittest guy at the club and has been able to keep up with his cardio in the altitude room so I don't think that will be a problem.''
Cartwright has a number of options with Anthony Don, Jamie Dowling or Matt Srama to be left out of the team.
Mead's encouraging form at fullback in the past fortnight, where he has made six line breaks and scored two tries, could see him rotate with Zillman at the back to take the strain of the returning vice-captain.
Zillman's injury has restricted his movement and speed and co-captain Greg Bird said the Titans needed him to be at full flight.
''Zilly's been keen (to play) for three weeks. He's just got one of those injuries that's touch and go,'' he said.
''He could probably go out and play 30-40 minutes but we need him for 80.''
It's a crucial game for the Titans who need at least two wins from their final four games to book a finals berth.
The Cowboys have hit top form in the past two weeks thumping South Sydney and Penrith and Cartwright said shutting down Johnathan Thurston, who notched a season record five try-assists against the Panthers, was pivotal to their chances.
''He was in his element last week. He was trying things, scoring tries off kicks and it all worked,'' he said.
''When he's in that frame of mind it's very hard to stop him.
''It's like any of the great players in the game, you've got to give them the ball where they're least dangerous and cut down their thinking time. That's our challenge this week.''
Hooker Matt Srama is also in the selection fold after passing a fitness test. Srama was called into the squad after Sam Irwin (hamstring) withdrew.
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