Bryce Cartwright to start in forwards for Titans as Kane Elgey holds on to No. 6 jersey

BIG-money recruit Bryce Cartwright could pull on a Gold Coast jersey in a trial next week as his coach outlined his plans for the former Panthers star.

Bryce Cartwright will join his new Titans teammates at training this week.

TITANS coach Garth Brennan has guaranteed Kane Elgey the Gold Coast’s No. 6 jersey and revealed multimillion-dollar recruit Bryce Cartwright is set to play lock.

Cartwright is expected to join his new teammates at training for the first time on Friday and could pull on a Titans jersey in Saturday week’s trial against the Broncos in Toowoomba.

The 23-year-old NSW Origin aspirant will link with the Titans following a 68-game NRL career with Penrith where he split his time between the back-row and five-eighth.

Bryce Cartwright will join his new Titans teammates at training this week.

The ball-playing dynamo is one of the game’s most skilful big men, prompting suggestions he could partner halfback Ash Taylor at the Gold Coast’s scrumbase.

But Brennan poured cold water on that idea, declaring Elgey will be Taylor’s playmaking partner in Round 1 despite his disastrous 2017 season.

“I spoke to Kane and said to him ‘I didn’t bring Bryce up here to play six’,” he said.

Kane Elgey is looking to bounce back after a tough 2017.

“Ash and Kane will be my first options in the halves. Kane doesn’t have to look over his shoulder, he just has to play good footy. The spot is his as long as he plays well.

“We’ve got Bryce, AJ Brimson and Karl Lawton nipping at his heels if he doesn’t grab this opportunity, but I want him to have that security to know that he will get given first crack.

“He’s trained really well in the pre-season and put a couple of kilos of muscle on.

“He will have Ryan James defending alongside him and hopefully give him that confidence he had in defence as a kid coming through with Ryan looking after him.”

In his return from a knee reconstruction last year, Elgey won three of the 19 matches he played and struggled to form a combination with Taylor.

Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey will form the Titans halves for Round 1. File photo

The Gold Coast product is now 24 and facing a crucial season in his career as he looks to establish himself as a long-term NRL player.

Brennan’s decision to guarantee Elgey the five-eighth role will see Cartwright play a roving role at lock.

“I see him in the forward pack somewhere,” Brennan said.

“That’s either on an edge or at 13 where he can float like Greg Bird used to be a ballplayer and rove around, that’s probably where I’m leaning towards at this point.

“I didn’t sign him to come here and be five-eighth or put any pressure on Ash or Kane.

‘‘Everyone being fit and healthy, Kane will be my five-eighth in Round 1.”

Bryce Cartwright will play a roving role for the Titans.

Brennan said Cartwright would arrive on the Gold Coast without any injury concerns.

The nephew of foundation Titans coach John Cartwright is expected to be available for selection in the Broncos trial and is certain to face the Warriors in the Gold Coast’s final warm-up game.

“He might get 20 minutes against Brisbane,” Brennan said.

Kevin Proctor returned to training on Monday, however, Brennan may not risk him in the trials after he suffered a freak throat injury recently.