Gold Coast Titans drop Anthony Don, welcome back Jai Arrow and AJ Brimson for Dragons NRL clash

Gold Coast interim coach Craig Hodges has refrained from making mass changes to the side that was demolished 58-6 by the Sydney Roosters – largely because he has few other troops to call on.

GOLD Coast interim coach Craig Hodges has refrained from making mass changes to the side that was demolished 58-6 by the Sydney Roosters – largely because he has few other troops to call on.

The axing of popular winger Anthony Don was the Titans’ only unforced change for their Round 21 meeting with St George Illawarra at Jubilee Stadium 3pm Saturday.

NOW OR NEVER FOR EMBARRASSED TITANS

Don was dropped for Broncos-bound flyer Jesse Arthars, while AJ Brimson and Jai Arrow make their returns from injury at the expense of new additions to the casualty ward: Michael Gordon (hamstring) and Jack Stockwell (wrist).

Anthony Don has been dropped for the third time this season. Picture: Getty Images

They join Tyrone Roberts (achilles), Dale Copley (knee) and Tanah Boyd (knee) on the unavailable list as well as Ryan James, Shannon Boyd and Keegan Hipgrave, whose seasons are all done.

That list leaves Hodges with just 22 players to pick his 21-man squad from. Will Matthews was the only omission.

Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >

Ash Taylor will wear the No.6 jersey for the first time in his NRL career while rookie flyer Treymain Spry is an outside chance of making his Titans debut after being named in the extended reserves.

Roberts’ absence will mean that Kevin Proctor is again the outright captain.

Jesse Arthars at training. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

The return for Arthars marks his first game for the club since his Broncos deal for next year was revealed. The 20-year-old has scored eight tries in nine Intrust Super Cup outings for Burleigh but is yet to cross the stripe in seven NRL appearances.

HODGES TAKES A HIT FOR ‘POOR’ TITANS

Gordon meanwhile is expected to miss one to two weeks, meaning he will still have the chance to add to his 257-game tally, should he retire at the end of the season.

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