Gold Coast forward Ben Ridge to look for new NRL club with Titans unlikely to re-sign
TRAVIS MEYN GOLD COAST BULLETIN JULY 29, 2015 10:15AM
HARD-hitting Gold Coast Titans forward Ben Ridge has been left “devastated” after being told his NRL future lies elsewhere.
Ridge is looking for a new club with the Titans unlikely to re-sign one of their most feared defenders beyond this season.
The 25-year-old has battled numerous injuries, including a severe broken ankle which resulted in four operations, throughout his eight seasons at the Titans.
He was a member of the Queensland Emerging Origin squad in 2013 but has faced a struggle to reach his potential and managed just 58 NRL appearances since debuting in 2010.
According to his manager Andrew Woolnough, Ridge was willing to accept a pay-cut to extend his tenure by another season but he is now resigned to playing elsewhere in 2016.
“He’s devastated,” Woolnough said.
“He’s accumulated too many injuries over the last couple of years and they’re not prepared to persevere with him.
“He’s a fantastic player, is still young and played 50-odd first grade games. It’s disappointing.
“It was looking like he’d have to take a substantial cut which we would have considered.
“It’s just the way it is. It happens all the time.”
Ridge, who’s a favourite among his teammates, had a stellar pre-season and was shaping as an ideal replacement for Ashley Harrison in the No. 13 jersey.
But he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the opening minutes of the Gold Coast’s first pre-season trial and didn’t play an NRL match until Round 10.
He has only made four appearances in the top grade this year but Woolnough was confident Ridge would find another club.
“The Titans brought him down from Yeppoon as a kid,” he said.
“We’ll have a look around and hopefully there’s someone out there.
“There is some interest but it’s not locked in or anything.”
Ridge was scouted from St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon, the school which produced Titans big man Dave Taylor and Broncos halfback Ben Hunt.
Taylor was yesterday named in a 19-man squad for Monday’s home game against Parramatta as coach Neil Henry sweats on the fitness of Nate Myles and Ryan James, who will receive the results of scans on their injured shoulders today.
Henry said he was impressed with parts of Taylor’s 80-minute performance for Tweed Heads on Sunday and he could be a chance of returning to the NRL against the lowly Eels.
“He got some confidence,” Henry said.
“He would say it was okay, not outstanding.
“He had a couple of nervous touches early but he finished the game strongly.
“We’ll see if he can force his way back into the 17.”
Halfback Kane Elgey has shown positive signs after suffering a heavy concussion against the Broncos but will undergo tests later in the week.