Gold Coast co-captain William Zillman will miss yet another game with a nagging calf injury but should be right to make his first appearance of the NRL season next weekend, coach Neil Henry says.
Zillman was not included in the Titans' team for Saturday night's home clash with the Wests Tigers as Henry opted for an unchanged 17 following their loss to Melbourne.
Eddy Pettybourne has been named 18th man and could be added to the squad if he recovers in time from the corked thigh he suffered in Gold Coast's opening-round win against Newcastle.
But Zillman will sit out a third straight week, unable to shake a calf problem that has rendered him unable to complete a full week of training.
"It would be a huge risk to play him at the moment," Henry said.
"Hopefully he will come into contention next week.
"(David Mead) is doing a great job there but Zilly's had a great pre-season and he's one of our senior players. It's been very frustrating for him."
Winger Nathan Davis (shoulder) was the only injury concern to come from the 34-16 loss to the Storm but has been selected, with John Olive his likely replacement should he not be fit enough to play.
Henry said the Titans must shut down in-form Tigers fullback James Tedesco, who crossed for a hat-trick in Monday night's win over Manly, to have any chance of winning.
"It's like trying to handle (Cameron) Munster or Billy Slater last week. He's a lot of what they do out the back," he said.
"He's very sharp on his feet, very dangerous on kick returns as well.
"We'll have to do a job on him and have to be really wary when he's linking out the back."
Share
