David Mead hoping to retain Titans fullback jersey ahead of William Zillman

DAVID Mead has been one of the Titans best this season but he faces a battle to retain the fullback jersey ahead of the returning William Zillman.

Titans player David Mead with possession during the Round 5 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast, Friday, April 1, 2016. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

DAVID Mead says he has done all he can to retain the Gold Coast’s No. 1 jersey as co-captain William Zillman prepares to return to the field.

Zillman has not been seen in the NRL for nearly a year but scored a try in Tweed Heads’ 42-8 loss yesterday and is contention for the Titans’ trip to Cronulla on Sunday.

Mead has been one of the Gold Coast’s best in their impressive start to the season, relishing the opportunity to play five consecutive games in his preferred position.

The 27-year-old ran for a team-high 162m from 19 carries and scored his first try of the season against the Broncos last Friday.

It would be a big call by coach Neil Henry to replace Mead with Zillman immediately given the improvements he has shown. But Zillman could return on the wing in place of Nene Macdonald and Mead said he was preparing for a showdown with Sharks No. 1 Ben Barba.

“Hopefully I’ve done enough,” Mead said.

“I’m still going to work hard and fight for it.

“If Zilly and I are working hard to get that position then it’s only healthy for the team.

“To start the year off with five games has certainly helped me. I feel like I’ve improved each week. I’m seeing the game a bit better from fullback.

“I know I have a lot of room for improvement which is a good thing.”

Mead, off-contract this season, has always been a strong ballrunner but his positional play and struggles to run out a game have worked against him in the past.

Under new fitness boss Matt Ford, Mead overhauled his training regimen and has not longer experienced the cramping he has in the past.

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“My fitness has been pretty good,” he said.

“Fordy and Sean (Edwards, strength coach) have got me on a good program this pre-season.

“I did a lot more explosive training and repeated efforts. In previous years it was a lot more aerobic with long-distance running.

“They specified that for a couple of us outside backs to help us with how the game’s played and that’s helped a lot.”

Mead got a first-hand look at what it takes to be an elite NRL fullback with Darius Boyd’s classy performance on Friday night.

Ball-playing fullbacks like Boyd and North Queensland’s Lachlan Coote bring a whole new dimension to a team and Mead said it was a part of his game he was working on.

Mead has been one of the Titans best this season.

“I can do a bit more ball-playing,” he said.

“I have to work on that tip-on to the centre or winger. It takes a bit of experience and time to develop that.”

Mead made a blunder in the opening set of the Broncos game which led to a Brisbane try but Henry was full of praise for his “brave” performance.

“He’s had a tremendous game,” Henry said.

“He took it upon himself to try and get momentum. He launched himself at Corey Oates to force an error.

“That’s how he plays. He’s a very brave player.”

Originally published as David Mead hoping to retain Titans fullback jersey ahead of William Zillman