Jarrod Witts weighs in on his Gold Coast Suns captaincy prospects

SUNS ruckman Jarrod Witts says he would be honoured to become the club’s next captain and hopes his decision to sign a long-term deal sends a clear message to Gold Coast’s young list.

SUNS ruckman Jarrod Witts says he would be honoured to become the club’s next captain and hopes his decision to sign a long-term deal sends a clear message to Gold Coast’s young list.

Witts captained Gold Coast multiple times in 2018 when former co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May were absent and is one of four players from last year’s eight-man leadership group to remain at the Suns in 2019.

Gold Coast Suns open beach training session at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. Jarrod Witts at Currumbin Creek. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The 208cm talent said the new skipper would likely be crowned in February and he was ready if called on to do the job.

“We are still going through that process now,” Witts said following the club’s open training session at Palm Beach.

“In a month or so we will pick the leadership squad and captain from there.

“If it did happen and it was me to be chosen I’d be super honoured to take that on.”

Gold Coast Suns open beach training session at Palm Beach on the Gold coast. Suns players change the rules of training to get the man with the paddle during a paddleboard relay race at Currumbin Creek. Picture Glenn Hampson

The 26-year-old and fellow frontrunner for the captaincy position, David Swallow, have both committed until the end of 2024 and Witts said it would give more power to the words they spoke inside the four walls of the club’s Carrara headquarters.

“I hope now when we talk it comes from a place of substance, knowing we are in it for the long haul and we really want this club to go forward,” Witts said.

Gold Coast Suns open beach training session at Palm Beach on the Gold coast. Suns players change the rules of training to get the man with the paddle during a paddleboard relay race at Currumbin Creek. Players are pictured tackling Brad Scheer. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We are really excited about the future. We think it’s going in the right direction and we are really confident.

“That is the stuff we want to be passing on to the young boys.”

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Gold Coast will be looking to add new members to the leadership group following the exit of Lynch, May, Michael Barlow and Matt Rosa and Witts said two young players had already shown they were up to the task if needed.

“Emerging wise, Brayden Fiorini and Jack Bowes have got a good hold of things,” Witts said.

“They understand the game and read it really well. They pick the best times to speak and they are well respected among the group as well. They are the two who have stood out to me.”