Prince eager to captain Titans
Trad McLean
09Nov06
SCOTT Prince wants to be the captain of the new Gold Coast rugby league franchise.
While he said he would respect whatever decision Titans coach John Cartwright makes when the team plays its first trial in February, he would dearly like the honour.
Prince had to give up the leader's rights at his former club, the Wests Tigers, after he signed with the Gold Coast midway through last year.
The representative halfback knew that would always be the case if he did switch allegiances but he hopes he can salve those wounds by proving to Cartwright he is the man for the job.
"I enjoyed being captain while at the Tigers and I would be very proud and honoured to do it here," said Prince yesterday as the Titans entered a two-night camp at Casuarina Beach, just south of the border.
"At the end of the day it is a decision the coaching staff have to make. If they choose another player I have to respect that it is best for the team.
"It was something I had to deal with in terms of coming here. If I'd stayed at the Tigers I probably would have been captain for the years I was signed there.
"I had to weigh that up and knew I had to give that up. Certainly in the back of my mind I was hoping I would get it here.
"I enjoy the captaincy responsibility and everything involved in it."
While this week is more of an orientation process for the Titans, on Monday the grind starts when pre-season training gets under way officially. The Titans administration have outlined to the players how hard they worked to win the 16th NRL franchise, and Prince said they were appreciative of it.
They could only repay the debt by working hard on the training field to ensure the team's success.
"It is exciting this time around because it is not too often you go to a new franchise that is starting off from the ground up," said Prince, who has previously played at the Cowboys, Broncos and Tigers.
"Michael Searle and his team explained the hard work they had to go through, the disappointment of first missing out, and then the jubilation of getting in.
"They have had to overcome a lot of hurdles. In life in general you always have your critics and doubts about things. Obviously they have learned from their previous mistakes with teams on the Coast.
"We haven't kicked a footy yet and Searley and his team have done a great job.
"Now it is up to the coaching side of things from the head coach down to the players.
"There is a bit of pressure on us to perform but I think we have the team to do it."
Source: GC Bulletin