Englishman Alex Gerrard trialling with Gold Coast Titans after signing with ISC side Tweed Seagulls
HE’S the latest Englishman hoping to make his NRL mark on the Gold Coast but Alex Gerrard is putting no pressure on himself to become the Titans’ first major Super League success story.
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HE’S the latest Englishman hoping to make his NRL mark on the Gold Coast but Alex Gerrard is putting no pressure on himself to become the Titans’ first major Super League success story.
A veteran of more than 100 appearances for former Super League side Widnes between 2010-18, the 28-year-old prop has signed with Tweed Seagulls for next season after spending this year with Intrust Super Cup rivals Mackay.
As part of his Tweed deal, Gerrard has been given a six-week train-and-trial opportunity with the Titans, whose flirtations with players from the UK’s top competition have so far proven largely unsuccessful.
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While Canberra’s charge to this year’s NRL grand final was underpinned by Englishmen Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton, Gold Coast’s previous signing of compatriots Richie Mathers, Dan Sarginson and Joe Greenwood met a meek end.
Joined at Titans training by mid-season English recruit Kallum Watkins, Gerrard said he was desperate to prove himself in the NRL but conceded his future on the Glitter Strip was ultimately out of his hands.
“I’m just going to try and work as hard as I can and come the end of (the trial) I’ll see what happens,” the 102kg, 188cm forward said.
“You can’t be too confident. I just want to put myself in the best possible position and put the (contract) decision in someone else’s hands.
“It’s been really good (so far), I’m really enjoying it. The boys have been really welcoming.
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“I’ve always wanted to come to Australia so I thought I’d try and make it into an NRL system. When Widnes got relegated (from the Super League in 2018) I thought it was a perfect opportunity to come over.
“I was offered a contract with Toulouse and that was a full-time deal (but coming to Australia) was something that I’ve always wanted to do. It’s probably the most competitive rugby league in the world so it’s trying to compete with the best and test yourself.”
In 20 ISC appearances for Mackay this season, Gerrard averaged 106 running metres and 30 tackles as the Cutters finished 11th.
Regardless of the outcome of his Titans chance, he said he now hoped to help Tweed build on this year’s first finals appearance since 2014.
“I really enjoyed it this year, it was a really good experience. It was very competitive … but at the end of the season my manager and I said (to Mackay) we wanted to experience all of Australia,” Gerrard said.
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“We spoke to Woolfy (coach Ben Woolf) down at Tweed and we met up and things spiralled from there. Tweed have been improving every year.
“If I go back to Tweed then hopefully we can improve on last year and have a really good season.”
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