Cartwright brushes aside No. 7 concerns

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A week after virtually pushing Scott Prince out the door, Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has dismissed fears finding his replacement will prove difficult.

Cartwright said Manly had shown NRL clubs could be successful with young halves after rookie Daly Cherry Evans and Kieran Foran took them to a premiership in 2011.

"Manly have done it and the Bulldogs (Josh Reynolds and Kris Keating) made this year's grand final," he said.

"I'm not too concerned by it."

Either was the club's star 2013 recruit Dave Taylor who would have benefited from Prince's guile and creativity.

"It's a good opportunity for young blokes to come through. We've seen it with Adam Reynolds (South Sydney) and a lot of young blokes who have come through, Benji Marshall for example," said Taylor, who fronted for his first pre-season training with his new NRL club on Monday.

Cartwright has four months to decide who'll take over from Prince at halfback, a role he commanded since the formation of the Titans in 2007.

Whoever it is will be playing behind a terrific pack with Taylor joining representative stars Nate Myles, Ash Harrison and Greg Bird.

"If I was a young halfback there wouldn't be many packs I'd rather play behind than the pack we're going to have," said Cartwright.

"That's probably why I'm not so overly concerned with it."

Cartwright reeled off several players he said he'd consider playing in the halves including sacked Cronulla utility Albert Kelly who's trialling for an NRL contract.

There didn't appear to be a lock on the five-eighth either, though with 18 starts at pivot in his rookie year Aidan Sezer will likely have the inside running for the No.6 jumper.

"There's Albert (Kelly), Aidan Sezer, Greg Bird, Jordan Rankin, Beau Henry and Matty Srama, there's plenty of options there," Cartwright said of a potential halves combination which won't be settled on until after the pre-season trials in February.

"Obviously we'll go into the (pre-season) trials with an idea but things can change quickly so we won't rush into it," he said.

Apart from sorting out his new scrumbase duo, Cartwright also has to replace Prince as captain next season.

Myles is keen to step up following his best State of Origin series and also having taken out the Gold Coast's player of the year award but Cartwright is in no hurry.

"Captains usually pick themselves," he said.

Myles meanwhile started pre-season training on Monday, a fortnight ahead of schedule with the club's representative players not required until November 19.

"We're lucky. There's probably half a dozen guys we could make captain and you'd get no argument from anyone in the squad," said Cartwright.

On the injury front veteran prop Luke Bailey is well ahead of schedule in his comeback from Achilles surgery while centre Jamal Idris was still on the mend following hip surgery.

"Luke is well ahead of schedule. He hasn't had a day off since his specialist gave him the all clear to start weight bearing again," Cartwright said.

"I expect him to be there at the start of the year."
 
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Reactions: Rex
I'd go Matt Strama..very smart player, with Seizer at 5/8.
Should never have been in this situation IMO.
They also should never had handed Cartwright a five year contract.
 
Maybe Cartwright realises that the Titans problem is not their halves, but their coach.
 
Strewth, has Jamal had a hip replacement already? Must be the wide, heavy load he lumps around.
 
wasn't Beau Henry gonna be the next big thing ? He didn't last long at Knights and hasn't cracked it for a regular spot at Titans yet.
 
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Reactions: Rex
Cartwright brushes aside concerns because A) he has a 5yr deal and B) everyone knows that they wont make the 8 nomatter who plays 7.
 
Team P W L PD Pts
3 3 0 48 6
3 2 1 45 4
3 2 1 28 4
3 2 1 22 4
3 2 1 15 4
3 2 1 14 4
2 1 1 13 4
3 2 1 10 4
2 1 1 6 4
3 2 1 -3 4
3 1 2 0 2
3 1 2 -5 2
3 1 2 -15 2
3 1 2 -22 2
3 1 2 -36 2
2 0 2 -56 2
3 0 3 -64 0
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