Cronulla great Michael Ennis has dished out an almighty spray to struggling Titan Bryce Cartwright on Monday night.
The premiership winning Shark ripped into Cartwright on Fox Sports' Big League Wrap for his poor form through the 2018 season, particularly in Gold Coast's 32-18 loss to Canberra in round nine.
“Cartwright, boy oh boy is he struggling,” Ennis told Fox Sports.
“They removed Kane Elgey because of his defence. He needed to go back (to Queensland Cup) and work on some areas of his game, but Garth Brennan was specific in saying it was about his defence.
“Well Bryce Cartwright’s defence is atrocious. I can’t say it in any other manner.”
Ennis highlighted the Titan's 44 missed tackles on the weekend, claiming Cartwright's underhwelming defence puts his spot in the team under pressure.
The former NRL star also emphasised Cartwright's unwillingness to grind it out for the rebuilding Titans.
“The Raiders targeted the left edge of the of the Titans and he missed tackle after tackle,” Ennis said.
"He doesn’t want to get down and dirty at all. He lacks any sort of aggression in his game."
“When I think of backrowers who have gone and played five-eighth, I think of Greg Bird, Shaun Timmins, I think of Wade Graham from time to time. They play tough, they roll up their sleeves, they run the football with intent.
“(Raiders five-eighth) Blake Austin led the way at times, and Bryce Cartwright’s giving him 20 kilos.”
Ennis said that the struggling five-eighth must to show his club he belongs in the league.
“He’s let his coach down. There’s no two ways about it,” he said.
“He’s given him a lifeline and he’s taking the p*** up there, Bryce. No two ways about it.
“He needs to show that he wants to be an NRL player, he’s nowhere near NRL standard.”
The Titans host the Storm at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday.
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