Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been set free to focus on his own blockbusting game now that he has veteran playmaker Kieran Foran beside him to call the shots on the field.
The 32-year-old Foran’s recruitment from Manly, where he won the 2011 NRL title, may well prove to be one of the shrewdest acquisitions in Titans history.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook says that Kieran Foran (inset) and former Roosters hooker and 2019 premiership winner Sam Verrills, right, had set 23-year-old Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui free. Credit:Getty
The Titans had their season launch on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night where a sense of optimism permeated proceedings after a season which ended with them missing finals football.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook said that No.6 Foran’s presence, along with that of former Roosters hooker and 2019 premiership winner Sam Verrills, had set his 23-year-old skipper free.
“Kieran will run a lot of the footy stuff along with Sam and (fullback) AJ Brimson and that will free Tino up to do what he does best – which is lead by example,” Holbrook said.
“That will take the burden off Tino having to worry as much about decisions on the field.
“Tino gives it everything each week. That won’t change. Now we have the footy smarts around him which will help our side and help Tino as well.”
Fa’asuamaleaui was a tower of strength at prop through tough times last year. He still set standards that led to his winning a State of Origin series with Queensland and a World Cup with Australia, but his demeanour after club losses suggested he was carrying a heavy load as the Titans slipped out of finals contention.
In 2020 he was a young front-rower at Melbourne surrounded by a phenomenal brains trust that included skipper Cameron Smith.