Last word: Temporary halves switch set to spark creativity

It's incredible to think the Titans' starting spine has only been able to play 120 fully-fit minutes in the opening seven rounds.

Missing AJ Brimson in Round 1, the trio of him, Jayden Campbell and Toby Sexton - who trained together for whole pre-season - united in Round 2 for a gritty win against the Warriors, before a rib cartilage injury from a heavy collision against the Raiders in Round 3 severely hampered Campbell, with the 22-year-old still working to get his body right to return to the top grade.

The Gold Coast had the luxury of having more-than-capable fullback Jamayne Isaako fill the void after joining the club in late March, but given it's been tough going without the star trio - who spent the entire of the summer with the team as the king linchpins - coach Justin Holbrook has opted for a switch to try and ignite some creativity whilst not having all three first-choice playmakers together on the field.

This includes moving Brimson to his former No. 1 position and promoting Will Smith to do a job for the team in the five-eighth role.

"I don't think we're offering a lot with the ball. We're focusing so hard on our defence, but we've not been great with the footy in the hands," Holbrook said.

"Will Smith played Round 1 for us and has spent all pre-season there.

"It's been really hard for Jamayne to come in and jump straight into the side. He's done a really good job for us and I'm not unhappy with him, but clearly we've got to go with a bit more creativity.

"AJ is equally as good in both positions. JC is back now (playing Hostplus Cup) which is good, but he's got to play well to get back in, so that that's our best option. That's why I've gone that way."

There has been plenty of outside noise and pressure on the blue and gold halves pairing in recent weeks with results not going the club's way, but the Titans mentor feels a lot to do with it is missing their first-choice fullback.

"I think not having JC there is what's happening. We spent all pre-season with Toby, AJ and JC training together," Holbrook said.

"We've put other guys in because you're going to have to make positional changes at times, but I think the fact that AJ didn't play game one and then JC hasn't played since game three and our attack has not flowed really well in the games [since then].

"Ideally, if JC can get a couple of games (playing for Tweed) and get all his confidence up, then we'll move AJ back and get on with what we wanted to run with at the start of the year.

"Right here and now, we know we haven't been winning games, so we've got to try and come up with the best case Will Smith is a fantastic player in any position and he did a really good job for us game one against Parramatta."

With two tough clashes ahead - up against Penrith tonight before meeting the Roosters in Mackay next Saturday, Holbrook is full confidence in being able to turn things around after matching it with some of the NRL's top sides earlier in the season.

"I'd really like to win both," Holbrook said.

"I think last week was really disappointing for me. I think that the six games before, we know we hadn't won them all, but we've competed really hard... four tries all against Manly, we chased Parramatta twice and could have got them one of the two, but then last week, we're a million miles off and that's the disappointing thing as a coach and as players.

"We've got to get back to putting ourselves in a chance of winning games of footy and getting it done sooner rather than later."

The resurgence begins tonight against the Penrith Panthers, with kick-off at 6pm at Cbus Super Stadium.