Mortimer keen for Cartwright to stay

Key Titans acquistion wants embattled coach John Cartwright to stay with the NRL club.

Daniel Mortimer during a practice session.

Daniel Mortimer (pic) says coach John Cartwright is the reason he signed with the Titans. (AAP)

Key Gold Coast signing Daniel Mortimer says coach John Cartwright is the reason he signed with the Titans and wants him to stay at the embattled NRL club.

Cartwright's tenure at the Titans has come under increased scrutiny after the club announced a review of operations last week.

The players responded in fine style with a gutsy 22-8 win against Newcastle on Sunday.

Mortimer has steered the Titans to wins over the Knights and South Sydney in his four games with Gold Coast since leaving the Sydney Roosters in mid June to keep the early season premiership frontrunners in the finals hunt.

"I believe the team and the staff have a really good foundation and a good group of guys and we can push for the finals not just this year but a number of years," Mortimer told AAP.

"When something like that happens (the review) the club is a family, I have only been here for a couple of weeks but I can feel that.

"We all have each others' back.

"I know there is a bit of pressure on some of the staff and some of the players and when that pressure came out we really bonded.

"That is what you do in a big family you back each other and you turn up for each other.

"But we have to take that motivation. It can't go away after one good win, the hardest part will be backing that up the week after and the week after."

Cartwright still has two years on his contract with the Titans, like Mortimer.

The Titans mentor had been in continual discussions with the tricolours premiership winning utility and finally lured him to the glitter strip.

"I really rate Carty as a coach and he is the type of coach you want to win for and you saw that with the players against Newcastle," Mortimer said.

"Part of that is the reason why the boys turned up last week, he is a great fella.

"I have been in contact with John a bit. He tried to get me up here two years ago and obviously I have been in talks about coming up here for the next couple of years and then the injuries happened.

"I came up here to play under him and I'm hoping that's what will keep happening."


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