Sailor keeping quiet before Titans clash
Shutting down Wendell Sailor is one thing.
Shutting him up is another entirely.
Yet the prospect of taking on exciting Gold Coast Titans flyer Kevin "Flash" Gordon has made Sailor unusually quiet in the countdown to the Dragons' Monday night NRL clash at Skilled Park.
There is speculation that the outspoken dual international is in the Origin mix after the long-term injury of centre Justin Hodges in Queensland's game one victory.
But all Sailor offered at Dragons training this week when pressed on the issue was: "Go and talk to (Cowboys centre) Willie Tonga".
It would be a remarkable representative comeback by the 34-year-old who last played Origin way back in 2001 before switching codes.
And many expected Sailor to detail just how remarkable he is ahead of the Titans clash with the Dragons breathing fire on top of the NRL ladder.
But a recent sighting of Gordon appears to have done the unthinkable - kept Sailor quiet.
A recent admission by Sailor revealed just how highly he rated his Titans opponent.
Sailor first caught a glimpse of the 19-year-old playing in the Toyota Cup in the round two curtain raiser at Wollongong.
"I saw him put on an 80 to 90m try. I thought 'gees I would hate to be marking that bloke'," Sailor told Channel Nine.
While Sailor has been short of "tips" for Gordon, Titans veteran pivot Mat Rogers has offered one key piece of advice to the youngster.
"You can't sledge blokes like him, he will rub it back in your face," Rogers laughed.
"I know it (stopping Sailor) is going to be a challenge because he is a competitor and he is a massive human.
"He will be trying to lead the team and trying to get them going forward."
Titans co-captain Scott Prince did not have to be reminded of Sailor's career resurgence that has coincided with notorious underperformers the Dragons' remarkable turnaround.
"We will certainly have to be on our game to come away with the two points on Monday night but with big Wendell there, anything can happen," he laughed.
But Titans coach John Cartwright is not only concerned about Sailor pressing his Origin claims.
The Gold Coast mentor is wary of a backlash from the Dragons' NSW forward contingent of Michael Weyman, Ben Creagh and Justin Poore following Queensland's 28-18 win in Melbourne.
"They were rewarded with a couple of Origin positions and those NSW guys want to go back for round two," Cartwright said.
"They wouldn't be happy getting beaten in Melbourne.
"All those blokes who played Origin will be keen to do well to get picked for the second one."
Cartwright praised a Dragons outfit with "no weaknesses" that had been led admirably by in-form pivot Jamie Soward.
"If you are not alert (against) a side with a kicking game like his, they come up with points," he said.
The Dragons (1st; 9-3 record) have never lost to the Titans (8th; 7-4), enjoying a run of five victories.
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.