Last year Matt Srama broke onto the scene as an 80-minute tackling machine, but in this season’s run to the finals the Gold Coast No.9 is happy to be in a time-share arrangement with replacement hooker Beau Falloon.
Srama was lauded as a future Queensland rake after a stellar start to his NRL career, and admits having his playing minutes slashed was a little difficult to swallow at first.
But the facts are simple – since South Sydney recruit Falloon was injected into the team against Canberra in round 19, the Titans have gone on a three-match winning streak.
Falloon scored his second try in three games in Friday night’s 36-16 win over the Sydney Roosters, as the resurgent Titans kept well in the race for eighth spot.
Srama concedes he has suffered a little bit from second-year syndrome in 2012 but believes his one-two combination with Falloon has proven the perfect tonic.
He can preserve his body and go full tilt when he’s on the field.
“I’ve got to admit, it’s been difficult, players get to know you more, but in saying that I worked hard and I think we’re working really well as a team and personally I’m pretty happy with my game,” Srama told AAP.
“When I’m on there I want to make it quality and the amount of time I’m out there I want to provide a lot in attack as well as defence.
“(The combination) is going really good. He (Falloon) had an injury in the pre-season which set him back and he deserved his chance. He’s been playing some really good footy, we’ve been getting good minutes together … I think we can build a good bond coming into the finals.”
The Titans have turned their form around drastically in the past 10 weeks after an ordinary start to the season and are now in the frame for the playoffs.
Following the high profile purchases of Nate Myles and Jamal Idris in the off-season and the blooding of five-eighth Aidan Sezer, Srama says it’s taken time for the Titans to click.
However he believes if they do sneak into the finals they’re capable of making some noise.
Gold Coast are on 22 competition points and crucially they’ve improved their points-differential to -2.
“It mainly comes from the attitude of all the players. There’s a really strong belief now that we can do it,” he said.
NSW forward Greg Bird suffered a hamstring injury on Friday night and will need scans, but coach John Cartwright doesn’t believe it’s too bad.
Interchange forward Ben Ridge copped a knock on his knee but should be right to take on South Sydney in a blockbuster next weekend at Skilled Park
