Titans coach John Cartwright backs Nate Myles over tackling technique

GOLD Coast coach John Cartwright hit back at accusations of an illegal tackling technique by Nate Myles.

GOLD Coast coach John Cartwright hit back at accusations of an illegal tackling technique by Nate Myles, claiming Queensland's star Origin forward is just a "good old fashioned defender".

Myles was criticised heavily after the Maroons' series win, with his supposed penchant for leading with his head prompting protest in NSW after he dazed Blues hooker Robbie Farah in a head clash.

But Cartwright yesterday defined Myles as having one of the best tackling styles in the game, as opposed to the wrestling holds adopted by most modern footballers.

"You can't win, you've got guys who go in and wrestle and we complain about that and Nate is a good old fashioned defender," Cartwright said. "He goes in and leads with his shoulder and his head and you know as a game we just have to accept that sometimes there is accidental contact and I think we're getting away from that."

"(Assistant coach Trevor Gillmeister) works very hard with all of them with their technique and I think Nate is technically as good as anyone in the game, sometimes things just go amiss."

Myles is today expected to play his first game since the Origin win, making a brave comeback from a severe sternum injury that he carried in the final stages of Queensland's gripping victory.

The Titans prop did some brief contact work at training yesterday, although he grimaced in pain throughout the tackling drills with Luke Bailey and Ryan James, who has been drafted into the travelling team on standby for Myles.

It is believed the issue with Myles is that his chest bruising is so deep that any contact causes extreme discomfort and pain, but Cartwright believes the front rower will take to the field against the Raiders in Canberra today as well as prop Bailey who is coming back from a rib complaint.

"They're going to be playing with a bit of pain but that is why they are the players they are, the better ones seem to be able to play no matter what the conditions and play to the best of their ability," he said.

"It's a credit to Nate, but it's a good sign for the team and club that guys are willing to go down there in pretty inhospitable conditions and do what they need to do for the team."