Hey Presto, Prince's mojo's back
Days after being snubbed by Queensland selectors, Gold Coast Titans captain Scott Prince has got his mojo back - and it goes by the name of Preston Campbell.
Prince had an extra spring in his step as he led the Titans to a vital 24-13 NRL win over the Sydney Roosters at Skilled Park on Saturday.
But he claimed it had more to do with Campbell's return from a month-long knee injury than missing out on Queensland's recent 25-strong Origin squad.
"There's so many things running through my head and he just settles me," Prince said of the veteran fullback.
"I told him after the game that I just felt that he eased the pressure for me.
"I've played with a lot of great fullbacks and he's certainly one of those.
"It helps when you've got a guy at the back to look up and talk to you - he's my eyes out there.
"And he brings that calmness across the park - it's a combination with him that I love."
The game's lead-up may have been about Prince's snub and hooker Nathan Friend becoming the first to play 100 games for the Titans.
But the aftermath of the welcome four tries-to-two victory was dominated by one man - 33-year-old Campbell.
Even when Titans coach John Cartwright heaped praise on his two-try hero - fullback-come-pivot William Zillman - it came back to that man Campbell.
"It's a combination of him (Zillman) having a few games there and Preston at the back - it makes everyone feel pretty comfortable," he said.
The Titans limped to Skilled Park with a 2-5 season record.
But suddenly the Gold Coast appear to have found a magic formula with Campbell at fullback complementing Zillman and Prince in the halves.
"Combination is a big thing and (Cartwright) had a bit of a headache with some selections due to injury and suspension but it's something that we're working on," Prince said.
"The core 1, 6, 7 and 9 (Friend) that we've got on the field is something that we can build on and it showed (against the Roosters)."
Zillman was a budding half before being relegated to fullback during his junior days at former club Canberra thanks to the emergence of Todd Carney and Terry Campese.
And he appears to be making up for lost time after Cartwright threw him into the Titans halves.
"I am certainly getting more comfortable at five-eighth now - the first couple of games were a bit of a shock," Zillman said.
"And we are starting to click together as a team.
"We are not playing our best footy but we are still in every game - to hang in there really shows the character of the team."
"Hopefully it (win over Roosters) is a turning point for the season."
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