Titans enforcer Ryan James on why he turned down Wayne Bennett and the Broncos

TITANS enforcer Ryan James has revealed he met with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett as he mulled over the most important contract of his NRL career.

TITANS enforcer Ryan James has revealed he met with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett as he mulled over the most important contract of his NRL career.

James will attempt to bring down Bennett’s Broncos when the Gold Coast co-captain leads the Titans onto Suncorp Stadium this Friday night in the Queensland derby.

But the NSW Origin hopeful accepts he could have easily been wearing Broncos colours this season after taking Brisbane’s overtures so seriously he held talks with Bennett.

PEATS RACING TO FACE BRONCOS

Ryan James put family before rugby league. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The Broncos formally approached James six months ago as Bennett went to the open market in his quest to find a forward replacement for retiring skipper Corey Parker.

Off-contract at the time, the in-form James had interest from six NRL rivals.

While he ultimately inked a three-year upgrade with the Titans, which included the club co-captaincy, James says he discussed a move to Red Hill with Bennett.

“I certainly gave Brisbane a serious thought,” James said.

“I’m a Gold Coast kid and the Broncos were the only other club I thought about going to because location-wise they were close to home for me. I spoke to Wayne a couple of times about going.”

A key figure in convincing the prop to stay loyal was respected league mentor Rod Patison, who coached James during his schoolboy years at Palm Beach Currumbin.

“I didn’t know what plans the Titans had for me but I had a serious talk with the club and I also had a talk to one of my old school teachers Rod Patison,” James said.

“Once I talked to him, things became clearer. It wasn’t to be (joining the Broncos), I had my heart set on staying at the Gold Coast and being a leader here.

“I realised what the Coast meant to me and my family. After talking to Rod and the coaching staff at the Titans, it wasn’t a hard decision.”

It’s been a tough season so far for James and the Titans. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

James has been the one constant in a Titans side that has been decimated by injuries.

A staggering $4 million worth of talent was sidelined for last week’s 42-16 rout by Canberra, but the Coast are sweating on the return of key forward trio Chris McQueen, Kevin Proctor and Nathan Peats.

James is confident the Titans can be competitive against the Broncos — despite having lost 10 straight derby clashes at Suncorp in a dismal decade.

“Our results are a bit demoralising, but the effort is there and we’ll lift for the Bronco,” he said.

“I’ve never been in a team that’s had such a bad injury toll.

“Once we get a few players back like Peats, Kevvie (Proctor) and Chris McQueen, that’s hundreds of games of first-grade experience, they will help our halves. We need them to help lead us.”

Originally published as Titans enforcer Ryan James on why he turned down Wayne Bennett and the Broncos