Ryan James says his move to the second row for Gold Coast will not only free him up but unlock the NRL potential of five-eighth Kane Elgey.

The two friends went to school together on the Gold Coast and combined beautifully in those positions in Elgey’s breakout debut season three years ago.

Injury meant Elgey missed the 2016 season and he struggled to recapture his form last season as he played through the pain of a lingering sternum complaint.

With incumbent No.6 Tyrone Roberts transferring to the English Super League this season, the 24-year-old’s performance in the halves alongside Ashley Taylor will be key to the Titans’ 2018 fortunes.

James also struggled to produce any fire in the front row last year and he hopes a return to the edge kills two birds with one stone.

“We did have a really good year together (in 2015) … we know what we did back then,” James said.

“I’m re-learning a couple of things but the connection me and Kane had – we went to school together, played a lot of footy together there and are great mates – hopefully we bring the best out of each other.”

How incoming fullback Michael Gordon complements Elgey in attack will also be crucial, with Gordon hinting he will offer the Titans another playmaking threat this season.

“Without giving too much away, we’ve been working hard as a spine, the two halves and me and Peatsy (Nathan Peats),” Gordon said.

“And I’ve been super impressed since I’ve got here.

“It’s always good when the coach gives you the green light to play a bit of footy but you’ve still got to be smart about it because don’t want to be defending your line the whole time.”

The Titans play Brisbane in Toowoomba on Saturday, and coach Garth Brennan to name his side on Wednesday.