Gadd is new Titans captain

Six years ago, while at Manchester, his career was on the ropes after receiving a two-year ban for inadvertently taking a banned steroid – thinking it was only a fat burner – but since then he’s worked hard to fulfil his potential, despite also struggling with injury.

And this week he was handed the plum role of club skipper as a reward for his input at Clifton Lane, not only as a player but also behind the scenes.

Coach Lee Blackett says the captaincy has been well earned.

“Marshall is respected massively around the club, from the supporters to the players,” he said.

“Two years ago Marsh was seen as one of the best scrummaging loose-heads in the league. Then he suffered with injuries and was out for over three months before we tried to rush him back for the big games at the end of the season.

“But now he’s recovered from that, has had a massive off-season and has trained really well.

“He’s a guy who cares massively about this club and is willing to help with anything – even to the point that as a qualified plumber he probably spends one day a week fixing all the pipes around the clubhouse.

“His role is to make sure the players are in the right place, day-in and day-out. He’ll be their spokesman.

“No-one knows me as well as Marshall and he knows the standard that I set and sometimes when that’s the case you need players to enforce it and he is one of them. He expects high standards as well and will help me out as much as possible.”

Gadd follows in the footsteps of Garry Law as Blackett continues with the policy of having two captains, the other being a conventional playing role, with several players in the frame.

He will also have to fight for a starting jersey with Robin Hislop and Toby Williams as the countdown continues to the opener at London Scottish next month. The scramble to get a starting call begins with tomorrow’s friendly opener at Premiership champions Northampton Saints and continues next week at Newcastle before  Blaydon wrap up the pre-season programme.