‘A mountain’: Titans vow to make Tino milestone count
Joel Gould |
Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was a magnet who drew coach Josh Hannay to the club for more reasons than his football ability.
The 26-year-old prop will play his 100th match for the Titans against the Warriors on Saturday after carrying the burden of an underperforming team on his broad shoulders.
The Queensland star won a premiership with Melbourne in 2020 before joining the Titans and subsequently signing a lucrative long-term deal through until the end of 2030.
The Titans played finals in his first year but since have not finished above 13th.
Hannay joined the Titans after working with Fa’asuamaleaui in Maroons camp as an assistant coach.
“He was one of the reasons I came to this club. I had the privilege of working with Tino through Origin and I loved his character,” Hannay said.
“Tino cares for his teammates and he is an enforcer out there. He puts everyone first. We, as a group, want to put him first and do what we can to make (his 100th) a special occasion for him.
“He is a mountain for this club and has been since he got here.”
Hannay spoke to Fa’asuamaleaui in Origin camp and came to understand that he couldn’t carry the load at the Titans on his own. This year the club made fellow prop Moeaki Fotuaika co-captain to assist.
“From the outside looking in, he looked like a guy carrying a heavy load,” Hannay said.
“He is such a spirited guy it wasn’t something he could fob off and move on and go about his work. He carried a heavy weight.
“I was driven to come here and release some of that pressure on him and help us as a club to relieve some of that weight. I think we have.
“Moe becoming captain alongside him has been paramount to easing some of that pressure.”
The clash against the third-placed Warriors is sold out and the Titans, in 13th, are aiming for a third win in a row.
“It is a huge challenge and a huge opportunity as well. There will be a great atmosphere here,” Hannay said.
“They are a quality football side, well coached and coming off a loss. They will want to bounce back.”
The Titans have been strengthened with the return of AJ Brimson from concussion and in-form bench forward Kurtis Morrin is back on deck from a severe infection.
AAP