Kane Elgey has chance to lead Titans against Warriors with Ash Taylor out injured

KANE Elgey will get his chance to lead the Gold Coast Titans after Bryce Cartwright was thrust into a makeshift halfback position for Saturday’s clash with the Warriors.

Kane Elgey has an opportunity to lead the Titans following Ash Taylor injury

KANE Elgey will get his chance to lead the Gold Coast Titans after Bryce Cartwright was thrust into a makeshift halfback position for today’s clash with the Warriors.

Cartwright will start in the halves against the improved New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium after Ash Taylor succumb to a hamstring injury.

Taylor is only expected to miss one match and should be available for the Gold Coast’s fixture against St George-Illawarra in Toowoomba next Sunday.

It is somewhat of a left-field move by rookie coach Garth Brennan to replace Taylor with Cartwright, however Elgey will play the traditional halfback role.

Kane Elgey has an opportunity to lead the Titans following Ash Taylor injury

Elgey, 24, is off-contract this season and fighting for his NRL future on the Gold Coast.

He needs a big season to secure a new deal and may get few better opportunities to press his claims than today with the dominant Taylor missing.

Cartwright started at five-eighth in 20 of 69 matches for Penrith and trained mostly at second-receiver when Taylor missed Wednesday’s session.

The halves are not a foreign position for the talented Cartwright and Elgey will be lumped with the responsibility of calling the shots against the Warriors.

Taylor’s omission and Cartwright’s shift from lock has opened the door for young firebrand forward Keegan Hipgrave to make his second appearance in the NRL.

Hipgrave, 21, made his debut in last year’s final round match against the Roosters and received a one-match suspension.

Elgey has a chance to shine against the Warriors on Saturday

The former Broncos junior has been a standout throughout the pre-season, with his aggressive attitude earning comparisons to ex-NSW Origin enforcer Greg Bird.

Hipgrave’s former Broncos teammate Jai Arrow, now also at the Titans, said the Gold Coast product was raring to go.

“I’ve been really proud of Keegan this pre-season,” he said.

“He rips and tears with the way he plays. He’s 100-mile-an-hour. He likes to get in and get the job done.

Bryce Cartwright partners Elgey in the halves

“If you’re not running harder than him … he’s going in to hopefully kill you.

“He’s a bit excited coming into the NRL. He’s just learning, as I am.

“I’m sure he will work it out and end up playing some good footy in years to come.”

The Titans have lost 13 of their past 14 matches against the Warriors, however the Gold Coast’s only win in that period was in Auckland in 2015.

After producing a remarkable comeback to beat the Raiders last Sunday, Brennan said it may be time for the Titans to turn around their Warriors hoodoo.

“Everyone is talking about how we’ve only beaten the Warriors once in our last 14 games,” he said.

“Maybe it’s our time to get the monkey off our back.”