Former Titan Jamal Idris credits Neil Henry as the key to Gold Coast’s form turnaround

FORMER Gold Coast star Jamal Idris has pinpointed new assistant coach Neil Henry as a key figure in the Titans' top-of-the-table form.

FORMER Gold Coast star Jamal Idris has pinpointed new assistant coach Neil Henry as a key figure in the Titans' top-of-the-table form.

The Titans have emerged as surprise premiership frontrunners after six NRL rounds, with their next assignment against Idris' resurgent Penrith next Monday.

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News_Rich_Media: The Parramatta Eels’ strong start to the season has continued after the blue and golds edged out the Roosters 14-12 at Pirtek Stadium.

After being dumped as head coach of North Queensland at the end of last season, Henry joined the Titans under John Cartwright at the start of the 2014 pre-season when Idris was still contracted to the club.

Idris was released from the final two years of his Titans contract on compassionate grounds, and signed with Penrith in early January but not before witnessing the changes Henry brought to the club.

“The thing about it is Neil Henry came and he threw a massive curve ball in the whole team, he did change a lot,” Idris said at training on Monday.

“The way they are have been playing is not the way they were playing, they are a completely different team.

News_Image_File: Idris believes Henry’s attention to detail has paid dividends for Gold Coast.

“Just the little things, especially in the forwards, we used to sort of do early shifts and try and make metres down the edges now they are just charging through the middle and actually utilising the forward pack.

“You look at their team list one to 13 they are outstanding, especially in their forward pack. Everything is just really connecting and they are where they should be at the moment.”

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Idris also paid tribute to the form of Titans halves Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly.

“They are both completely different players,” he said.

“Albert is really flamboyant, he plays whatever he sees in front of him whereas Aidan is really structured.

News_Rich_Media: Former Bulldogs winger Steve Turner reviews Friday night's NRL action as the Gold Coast Titans maintained their surge at the top of the ladder and the Rabbitohs outclassed Penrith.

“They complement each other really well.” Idris said he had been eyeing off the clash with the round seven clash against the Titans at Penrith since he joined the Panthers. “This is the only game that I know who we are playing against,” he said.

“Most of the time I get midway through the week and still don't know who we are playing against.

“This one I had marked up. You always play your best football against your mates.

“I just don't want to overdo it. I don't want to go out too hard. I just have to play my normal game.”