McQueen could be used in Gold Coast Titans centres to protect rookies Davis and Olive

CHRIS McQueen could yet make his Titans debut in the centres as coach Neil Henry mulls over whether to blood rookie Nathan Davis.

NINES RUGBY LEAGUE

CHRIS McQueen could yet make his Titans debut in the centres as coach Neil Henry mulls over whether to blood rookie Nathan Davis.

The Titans have made no ­secret of their desire to add a recognised outside back to their roster after losing strike centre James Roberts during the off-season.

But that’s unlikely to happen before Round 1 and Henry has to decide whether to capitalise on his depth in the forwards by using regular back-rower McQueen at right centre or throw Davis, or even teenage recruit John Olive in the deep end against Newcastle.

Olive could train with the ­Titans as early as this morning if paperwork confirming his transfer is completed.

But he is unlikely to be rushed into the Gold Coast’s Round 1 team, with Henry thinking about using former Origin forward McQueen in the backline in a bid to protect the young guns. Both McQueen and Davis have trained in the position over the past week and Henry said he was yet to make up his mind.

“We’ve got Anthony Don and Meady (David Mead) on the wings, it’s whether or not we go Chris McQueen in the centres or give Nathan Davis a debut,’’ Henry said.

“We’re training with both because what we’ve got is a bit of depth in the back row but not a lot of depth in the (backs).

“We just have to see how Nathan Davis is training, how he feels and if he keeps improving. But he’s certainly shown, I think, that he can handle it.’’

The Titans last night confirmed they were in the final stages of talks with Olive, the 19-year-old flyer who lined up against them for the Rabbitohs in last week’s trial at Pizzey Park. But with paperwork on the deal still to be completed, the club could not yet officially announce his signing.

Chief operating officer Brian Canavan said the club was still in negotiations which were expected to be finalised soon.

“There’s a bit more paperwork to transpire before we can confirm anything,’’ he said.

Olive had already been signed to a two-year deal with the Titans from 2017.

But lacking depth in the outside backs, the Titans have been negotiating with the Rabbitohs to release the former Australian Schoolboy this season. Using McQueen in the backs would allow Henry to start Agnatius Paasi, who has pushed for a starting spot in an outstanding pre-season.

Eddy Pettybourne, Leivaha Pulu and Lachlan Burr would then make up the forward ­rotation off the bench.

But with Luke Douglas ­already missing through suspension, the move would effectively leave the Titans down two top line forwards.

With Olive unlikely to be used this week at least, that brings Davis into the equation.

The former Eel has had to win Henry over after arriving on the Gold Coast out of shape and carrying the lacklustre attitude to training that led to him being cut by Parramatta.

But after knuckling down in training and impressing in the Nines and pre-season trials, Davis could line up against Newcastle on Sunday.

“There’s a way to go with him,’’ Henry said. “We can’t put a lot of expectation on any of our young guys, whether it’s Brian Kelly or him or Ash Taylor, they’re going to make errors ... they’re rookies.

“As they get their confidence they’ll make less and less ... But no one cares whether you’re on debut or have played 200 games when you’re on the field.’’