Titans: Who will replace Carney?
With the sudden retirement of international winger Brian Carney, our strength on the flanks is all of a sudden weaker than anticipated this close to the start of the NRL season.
Chris Walker - is he assured one wing
spot for our round one clash?
Former Origin star Chris Walker is impressing all the right people with his attitude and work ethic at training in which we would expect him to get one wing position assuming he trials well. This would leave one vacant position on the wing - who fills that role?
The contenders will come from:
Proven NRL first grader Matt Petersen did have exploratory surgery on his right knee on the 15th January - I am not sure of his status for the first trial. Petersen has an admirer in Carty who coached him when the USA took on the Australians a couple of seasons ago - he may have the inside running though I don't expect "Sideshow" to hold out some the brilliant youngsters we have on the books.- Shannon Walker (Australian schoolboy, Titans Elite Academy)
- Nathan Barnes (Tweed Seagulls)
- Smith Samau (Gold Coast Titans)
- Matt Petersen (Gold Coast Titans)
- Jake Webster (Gold Coast Titans)
- Richie Mathers (Gold Coast Titans)
Jake Webster I believe is a better winger than centre - I would have him on the flanks until Smith Samau, Shannon Walker or Nathan Barnes were ready to step up to first grade. If he is not on the wing, he will start in the centres with O'Dwyer or Delaney.
Smith Samau as a prospect is exciting. Team mate Jake Webster compared his sidestep recently to "a Benji Marshall or Karmichael Hunt" ... I think we have a real crowd pleaser on our hands and he is the darkhorse to start round one against the Stg Illawarra Dragons.
Who do you think will fill the void left by Brian Carney?