Kane Elgey enjoyed his football again last weekend, in a sign interim co-coach Craig Hodges says bodes well for the Titans' final NRL game in Sydney on Saturday.
The Gold Coast junior has been unable to recapture his rookie season form this year in a comeback from a knee reconstruction and then a sternum injury.
Thrust back into the No.6 despite Tyrone Roberts' good form, Elgey was eventually displaced after a series of quiet games.
While Ashley Taylor has continued on from his strong debut NRL season, Elgey has faltered with just one try assist in 1,245 minutes of action this year.
It took an unfamiliar stint off the bench at dummy-half last weekend to wake Elgey up.
With Roberts now injured, Elgey will finish the season at five-eighth and Hodges anticipates a better showing from the 23-year-old.
"I thought he was really good against the Bulldogs; he just came on and enjoyed the football," Hodges said.
"I saw the penny drop for him a bit.
"He came off with a smile on his face and I think he'll have a really good performance this week."
Elgey's confidence was rocked when he was drawn into the circus surrounding head coach Neil Henry's sacking nearly a fortnight ago.
Already struggling for form, Elgey was forced to deny reports that he would join Taylor and leave the club if Henry stayed.
His teammates admitted the drama had unsettled him and only added to the on-field pressures.
"They beat themselves up too harshly at times and I think confidence is key," Hodges said.
"But he's a hell of a footballer, Kane, and we've seen him do it at the level.
"It was just really pleasing from a personal point of view to see him come off actually enjoying that 25 minutes off the bench."
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