Gold Coast Titans co-captain Kevin Proctor glad to see the club being harsher with NRL team selections

Gold Coast co-captain Kevin Proctor says the harsher team selection policies implemented by interim Titans coach Craig Hodges have been a step in the right direction.

GOLD Coast co-captain Kevin Proctor says the harsher team selection policies implemented by interim Titans coach Craig Hodges have been a step in the right direction.

Proctor knows what it takes for an NRL club to be successful. The New Zealand international was part of six successive finals campaigns at the Melbourne Storm, including the 2012 premiership and being runners-up in 2016.

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Standards is a word that has been bandied around abundantly of late by Titans players, coaches and staff and it’s a word that Storm players were in no doubt about during Proctor’s time.

“(Storm coach Craig Bellamy) just had one job for you and if you did your job, then you would be in the team next week and it was pretty clear that if you didn’t do your job, you were playing Queensland Cup,” he said.

Kevin Proctor. Picture: AAP Image

“I don’t think we’re hard enough on that kind of stuff but it has changed the last couple of weeks and there has been a lot of changes.

“I think they have been pretty strict on it.”

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Since Garth Brennan’s axing, Anthony Don and Brenko Lee have been among those cut from the top 17. You can now add Leilani Latu to that list, with the prop making way for Lee on the bench in the side named to face the Roosters on Sunday.

Bryce Cartwright has been another victim, being shuffled back to the bench in favour of Sam Stone following a display in the 38-18 loss to Melbourne that was considered not up to scratch.

Bryce Cartwright of the Titans tackles Matthew Lodge. Picture: AAP Image

“I would always love to be starting but I had a pretty poor game against Melbourne and we’re holding some pretty strong standards here now so I have just got to keep working hard and fix the little areas in my game,” Cartwright said.

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In other changes from last week’s loss to the Broncos, Brian Kelly and Ryley Jacks return to the side at centre and halfback respectively in place of injured duo Dale Copley (hamstring) and AJ Brimson (hip).

The other notable inclusion in the 21-man list is marquee playmaker Ash Taylor, who has been named in the No.18 jersey after a pair of appearances for Tweed in the Intrust Super Cup.

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Titans Round 20 team: 1. Michael Gordon, 2. Anthony Don, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Brian Kelly, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Tyrone Roberts (c), 7. Ryley Jacks, 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Nathan Peats, 10. Jack Stockwell, 11. Kevin Proctor (c), 12. Sam Stone, 13. Jai Whitbread. Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey, 15. Moeaki Fotuaika, 16. Brenko Lee, 17. Bryce Cartwright, 18. Ash Taylor, 19. Mitch Rein, 20. Will Matthews, 21. Leilani Latu (four to be omitted).