Titans hooker Matt Srama has vowed to fight for his rugby league future after injury once again brought his season to a premature end.
Off-contract at the end of the year, Srama was pushing for a spot in the Titans' 17 with some strong displays for Burleigh in the Intrust Super Cup but had his hopes dashed when he suffered a season-ending knee injury against Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
The injury happened as Srama turned to try and tackle a Falcons player and while he initially wanted to stay on the field, scans on Monday confirmed the injury was far worse than he first suspected.
"It's obviously hard because it's so early in the season and I was looking forward to a big year but I've just got to move on. That's the game we play," Srama told NRL.com.
"I really put my head down this off-season coming off the shoulder reconstruction and was feeling really strong and probably the fittest I've been in a long time.
"My preparation was really good and I was really excited for a big year.
"That's probably the most devastating thing, how much work I'd put in and for it to end a bit prematurely is disappointing."
Given the salary cap juggling act ahead of him, Titans coach Neil Henry was unable to declare whether Srama definitely had a future at the club where he has played all of his 65 NRL games but does believe he still has something to offer in the NRL.
"It's really disappointing for him and the club," Henry said. "He was playing some good footy at Queensland Cup level, he'd overcome his shoulder problems and now to do his knee in a pretty innocuous movement, his season's gone.
"He's in the final year of his contract here but he's a young player with still a future there but I suppose that's a personal decision for him. He's had a few operations already in a short career.
"He's certainly got the ability to play at the highest level. We'll see how he recovers from this and make a decision later."
Where his playing future lies is not a priority for the 25-year-old just yet but he is determined to once again prove the doubters wrong.
"I've sort of built my career on that," Srama said. "Coming through the grades even before NRL I was always doubted and I've achieved beyond what a lot of people have thought so as long as I've got belief in myself, which I do, I know I can keep playing footy to my potential.
"Obviously everyone gets comfortable and would love to stay where they are but I'm a realist and I realise that's the game we play. That's the way it is with injuries and timing and luck and things like that.
"I'm not too worried about that at the moment, my focus is getting the knee right and getting it as strong as possible and cheering on this great squad we have here at the Titans.
"I've got a lot of hope and belief that 2016 squad of guys here at the Gold Coast Titans can do great things and I would have loved to have been a part of that this year.
"I'm just worrying about being a good ambassador for the Gold Coast Titans while I'm contracted here and supporting the boys."
This story first appeared on nrl.com.au
