Back rower Mark Minichiello plans to give the Titans an instant return on their investment with a big game against the Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium tomorrow night.
Minichiello, 28, who signed a new two-year deal with the Gold Coast on Wednesday, wants to show Titans fans the money was
well spent.
Asked about yet another physical stoush against a bigger pack after opening the season with three straight wins against the Warriors, Souths and Raiders, Minichiello said "bring it on".
"I always look forward to a big, tough battle up there in the forwards, they've got a big pack and we've really got to combat that again this week," he said.
"Last week they (Raiders) had a big pack and I thought we did a great job against them."
Minichiello, who enjoys running off halfback Scott Prince's hip, admitted it would a big test playing without their injured skipper.
"It's always tough going into the game in North Queensland without your captain but we did it last year and I think we can do it again," he said.
Minichiello will come up against Cowboys strongman Luke O'Donnell but says he's more focused on his own assignment that any individual battle.
"He (O'Donnell) is a great player, I like playing against good players and try and prove myself against them. It's not in the back of my head but ... I'll just concentrate on myself," he said.
The players have been shielded from the club's current salary cap allegations but given a briefing by coach John Cartwright on the latest developments.
"Our job is to play football, those things are out of our control," said Minichiello who along with fellow back-rower Anthony Laffranchi made a lot of metres against Canberra last weekend.
Robust five-eighth Greg Bird can be expected to play as an extra forward against the Cowboys but young wingers David Mead and Kevin Gordon will also have to roll up their sleeves and try to make some cheap metres out of dummy half when the opportunity arises.
- AAP
