Gold Coast coach Neil Henry hopes David Shillington brings his passion and aggression back to Queensland with him next year.
The Canberra prop was sent off late in Monday night's NRL defeat to Wests Tigers but has escaped any ban after taking an early guilty plea on a grade one contrary conduct charge.
Shillington will return to his home state in 2016 after agreeing a deal with the Titans and Henry believes the desire he showed against the Tigers is exactly what he wants from the forward next year.
"He obviously was worked up and showing a bit of passion there in a game that they were really desperate to win," Henry said.
"I've been liking what he's been doing down in Canberra, how he's been carrying the ball. He's been nice and aggressive, getting some good metres, hopefully he can replicate that for us next year."
The judiciary's decision to allow Shillington to avoid any ban despite being sent off for a headbutt left many perplexed.
Meanwhile, Manly prop Willie Mason will sit out the next two games after he was placed on report for a shoulder charge, which the NRL has cracked down on.
Henry says there was nothing else to do but outlaw shoulder charges given the potential for serious injury.
"You can't argue with some of the serious injuries that have occurred and even life-threatening injuries," he said.
"It's a welfare thing.
"There's still a debate about what constitutes a shoulder charge and that's the grey area at the moment, where the arm is, but basically players have bend their back a bit more and use shoulder contact."
Share
