Reformed young rogues Albert Kelly and Dane Gagai can continue to repay the faith NRL clubs showed in their ability when the Gold Coast host Newcastle at Skilled Park on Sunday.
Kelly, dumped by Cronulla and Newcastle before linking with the Titans this season and Gagai, punted by Brisbane before ending up with former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett at the Knights, have turned things around with their respective clubs.
Both indigenous youngsters are blessed with natural ability and regarded by their new coaches as match-winners.
Kelly is a brilliant stepping halfback with blinding acceleration off the mark while Gagai, returning from a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury, is a big-striding centre with a Justin Hodges-like sidestep and Greg Inglis-esque fend who can score long-range tries.
Gagai was sacked by the Broncos in May last year following a series of disciplinary breaches just six weeks after signing a new deal with the club.
The clash will invariably be decided by the battle of the forwards, but moments of brilliance by either Kelly or Gagai will have a considerable impact on the outcome.
Gagai, a former junior Kangaroo, was averaging a try a game starting the season before injuring his ankle in round three against Manly.
Kelly, who also battled a leg injury earlier this month, has similarly been on fire in scoring four tries in six games as his NRL renaissance gathers momentum with the Titans.
He will have added motivation against the club which sacked him over a nightclub incident but Gold Coast coach John Cartwright is confident Kelly will not lose focus trying to send the Knights a reminder of what they lost.
“Alby has moved on and understands the opportunity he has been given,” said Cartwright.
“All that is in the past for him. He isn’t holding grudges and he realises he can leave all that stuff in the past by playing his best football for the Titans.”
Kelly will be reunited with young No.6 Aidan Sezer who the Titans have missed, especially his long-kicking game so vital to field position.
The news has been all good for this week for the Titans – who are firm favourites to win – with both Sezer and bad boy Dave Taylor returning from his enforced ban for disciplinary breaches.
Tough prop Nate Myles also got through a late fitness test on Saturday morning.
Coach Wayne Bennett would not be happy his side is 0-3 on the road playing a team that is 3-4 at home.
But it’s a sure bet he’ll have a game plan to get Newcastle its first away win of the season based on ball control and discipline.
The Titans know Newcastle will come at them out wide with winger Akuila Uate and fullback Darius Boyd powering over 300 metres in their last two games.
Uate (seven), James McManus (four), Boyd (two) and Gagai (two) have 15 tries from 20 games compared to the Titans’ outside backs who have just four tries, three of them to winger Kevin Gordon, from 21 games.
Both fullback William Zillman and giant centre Jamal Idris remain tryless after six games each.
