Henry lays down Titans challenge

Interim Gold Coast coach Neil Henry has challenged the Titans to lift the gloom around the NRL club by ending their season on a high.

Gold Coast Titan's Gregg Bird

Gold Coast coach believes the struggling Titans can end their NRL campaign with four straight wins. (AAP)

Call it first-week enthusiasm but Gold Coast coach Neil Henry believes the embattled Titans can end their NRL campaign with four straight wins.

Henry begins his stint as the Titans caretaker coach on Sunday against premiership contenders Manly, with further games to come against the Warriors, St George Illawarra and a resurgent Canterbury.

With foundation coach John Cartwright resigning after a run of 10 defeats in 12 matches - including seven straight at home - Henry's optimism is admirable.

But the former North Queensland mentor believes his players need to have something to aspire towards to lift the mood within the club.

"I'm convinced we can win four games of footy," he said.

"We need to take that attitude out there. We've only got two opportunities at home and our record at home has been poor this year.

"If we can get a couple of wins at home at the back end of the season, it's going to pay back a bit to the fans who've been turning up.

"Tough games the next four weeks anyway but it'll be a big test of character for the club."

Five-eighth Aidan Sezer came through his comeback match against Sydney Roosters on Monday unscathed and will line-up alongside Daniel Mortimer in the halves, but there's a big doubt over representative forward Dave Taylor.

The giant Queensland State of Origin player is battling neck and calf complaints, and will need to prove his fitness on Sunday morning to be in Henry's team.

The Sea Eagles, beaten by South Sydney last time out, head north with an unchanged team despite that defeat.

Henry says there's no question he's facing a huge ask to deliver a long-awaited home win for the Titans against such a quality opponent.

"I think they're the only club in the competition that hasn't lost two games in a row," Henry said.

"We'll need to put that to bed.

"No false allusions about how they play. They're a tough side and it was a quality game of footy against Souths and we can expect more of the same.

"It's our home ground, there's a bit of emotion swirling around ... hopefully that gets the boys up for a game of footy and we can get out there and give a bit of a shake."


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