NRL 2021: Daly Cherry-Evans declares Gold Coast Titans the ‘dark horse’ in premiership race
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has been so impressed by the Titans this season, and the form of two of his Maroons teammates, he believes the club is the ‘dark horse’ in the premiership race.
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Daly Cherry-Evans infamously backflipped on an opportunity to join the Titans and now the Manly captain believes Gold Coast is a “dark horse” in the 2021 NRL premiership race.
Cherry-Evans will come up against the Titans in Mudgee on Saturday after leading the Sea Eagles to a drought-breaking win last weekend.
The Queensland Origin skipper snapped a last-minute field goal against New Zealand to deliver Manly its first win of the season and the Titans are bracing for the return of fullback Tom Trbojevic to give the Sea Eagles another boost.
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But it is the Titans of 2021 that have impressed Cherry-Evans, who signed with the Gold Coast in 2015 before reneging on the deal to remain at Manly.
The Titans have a 3-2 record after five rounds, with star recruits and Queensland players David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui having an immediate impact on the Gold Coast.
Cherry-Evans said he had been impressed by the Titans and tipped them to go deep this year.
“They are massive additions for the Titans,” he said of Fifita and Fa’asuamaleaui.
“We played the Titans at the back end of last year when they were in their fine form, to add those two classy players with some of the best young kids coming through, they will make a massive impact, they have to be a dark horse this year.
“I think they are a finals contender for sure. Based on the momentum they created last year and the additions of Dave and Tino, you have to think they will play finals footy for sure this year.”
The Titans caught a charter flight from the Gold Coast to Mudgee on Friday before what is a game they should win if they want to be considered finals contenders in 2021.
The Sea Eagles have had a tough start to the season with games against top eight teams the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Dragons and Panthers before last week’s win over New Zealand.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook said the return of Trbojevic from a hamstring injury would make Manly a dangerous opponent.
“That will give them a massive boost, we know how good a player he is,” he said.
“We’ve got to do a good job on him. We have identified him. He will give them a huge lift.
“They haven’t been playing as well as they would have liked, so to bring him back into the side will be a huge boost for the rest of the team.
“Look at the sides they’ve played – Penrith, Roosters, Souths … no one is easy.
“I plan on winning every game, I honestly do. We prepare the best we can and it comes down to the 80 minutes. We’ve got to perform. We want to keep winning. The more games you win early in the year, the better position you put yourself in.”
The Titans have lost winger Phillip Sami to concussion, with Jonus Pearson to play his first NRL game of the year. Fullback AJ Brimson has overcome a groin complaint to play and Holbrook said his form was improving following foot surgery.
“He’s been getting better every week and we need him to,” he said. “The more he gets involved with our team, the better we’re going to play.
“He’s doing a great job. He didn’t have a pre-season and is a very important part of our team.
“He is getting there. (Speed) is a big part of his game. He’s such an explosive type of athlete. He will be okay.”
TITANS STAR HAS ONE MONTH TO SAVE NRL CAREER
By Travis Meyn
Titans five-eighth Ash Taylor is facing a crucial month in his fight for a new contract on the Gold Coast.
The Courier-Mail understands the Titans are yet to make a decision on whether to offer Taylor a new deal and will monitor his performances over the next four to six weeks.
In the final season of his much-talked about $3 million contract, Taylor is hoping to secure an extension on the Gold Coast after resurrecting his career under coach Justin Holbrook.
Taylor returned early from a broken hand to help the Titans record a 42-16 thrashing of Newcastle last weekend.
He will face off against Manly star and the NRL’s iceman Daly Cherry-Evans in Mudgee on Saturday as he looks to build on his quest to be re-signed.
Taylor said he was not focused on securing a new contract and hoped his performances would be enough to clinch a deal.
“I don’t really think about that,” Taylor said.
“I just do whatever it takes for the team to win games even if that means me running around out there behind a decoy all night. I’m here to try to get a new deal but that’s not on my mind. I’m just focused on my footy for now.”
The Titans are yet to enter serious discussions with Taylor over his future as the club weighs up its options for 2022.
Gold Coast has made a play for dynamic Broncos ball-runner Kotoni Staggs, who is eyeing a potential move to five-eighth when he returns from a knee reconstruction later this season.
Staggs is yet to decide on his future and Taylor said he had not spoken to Holbrook.
“No not really, he is only worried about now,” Taylor said. “Our focus is now and the season. We want to be a top eight team, you can’t focus on deals and that for now.
“That’s why I’ve got a manager, leave it up to the manager. It’s got a little bit to do with Justin but not a whole lot, it’s just up to the club. I’m sweet where I am and I’m happy playing footy for now and when that ship comes around it will come around.”
Taylor, 26, underwent wrist and hip surgeries in the off-season after playing through painful injuries in 2020. He then fractured his hand in the Gold Coast’s Round 2 win against Brisbane, his 100th NRL game for the Titans, but only missed two matches.
Sporting a decent scar from surgery, Taylor said he was desperate to get back on the field alongside halfback Jamal Fogarty and help the Titans build on a promising start to the season.
“I was just sick of not playing and watching the boys play, it was a case of ‘how do you feel and can you handle the contact?’ he said.
“It’s just the scar tissue, obviously being back a week early doesn’t help. It took a couple of bumps and a bit of grief but nothing to stop me from playing footy.
“I just got a plate and seven screws in there. They do that to try and fasten the recovery.
“We are slowly working on our combination. I’ve just got to stay on the field. We’ve got to keep building on that now.”
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