Departing Gold Coast coach John Cartwright says Neil Henry should be appointed as his long-term successor at the Titans.
Monday night’s 26-18 defeat to premiers the Sydney Roosters in Cartwright’s final NRL match in charge following his resignation last week all but ended the Titans finals hopes.
After four successive years without playoff football Cartwright says former North Queensland coach Henry is the man to revive the ailing Titans.
Henry was appointed as an assistant to Cartwright at the start of the year.
He will take the reins of the NRL club for the final month of the season and is the favourite to be installed on a more permanent basis in 2015 and beyond.
“Neil has been there for 12 months, he understands the landscape, he understands where the club sits, I certainly endorse him, he has been very good for me,” said Cartwright, who was the club’s foundation coach and has spent eight seasons at the helm.
“It has been good for the players.
“It hasn’t shown in our results but I think to be there for 12 months is the big advantage.
“You understand where we are as a club, and what our limitations are and what you have to work within.”
Cartwright is set to take holiday leave following the loss to the Roosters.
He will be retained as part of the Titans set up but said he wasn’t sure what the future held.
“I haven’t thought about what I will do and where I will be tomorrow, that is the last thing on my mind,” he said.