New recruits Brad Tighe, Kalifa FaiFai Loa and Siuatonga Likiliki have been handed the first chance to impress in the Titans’ backline for the club’s opening trial match against the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.
Tighe (Panthers) and Likiliki (Knights) will start in the centres while former North Queensland flyer Kalifa FaiFai Loa has been selected on the wing in Titans head coach John Cartwright’s first squad for 2014.
Former Bulldogs under-20s stand-out Paul Carter, the son of premiership-winning Penrith five-eighth Steve Carter, has been named as starting hooker in his first match in Titans colours.
Former Melbourne Storm centre Maurice Blair and former Rabbitohs under-20s halfback Christian Hazard have also been selected to make their unofficial Titans debuts from the interchange bench.
Titans team to play Warriors on Sunday: Anthony Don, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Siuatonga Likiliki, Brad Tighe, Steve Michaels, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Ryan James, Paul Carter, Luke Douglas, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Tom Kingston. Interchange: Matt White, Caleb Binge, Mark Ioane, Christian Hazard, Jamal Fogarty, Cody Nelson, Maurice Blair, Jamie Dowling, Matt Beddow.