Gold Coast Titans recruit Jai Arrow is not taking his spot on the club's roster for granted, with the 22-year-old out to impress newly appointed coach Garth Brennan and earn a starting jersey for 2018.
Arrow is in just his second week of pre-season at the Titans after arriving from the Brisbane Broncos in the off-season on a three-year deal, and much like Brennan, the promising lock is still getting used to his new surrounds.
Brennan has been at the Titans for barely over a month, signing on with Gold Coast in mid-October fresh off the success of an Intrust Super Premiership victory with the Penrith Panthers.
The 45-year-old brings with him a breath of fresh air and a clean slate, with many of the Titans' 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership side fighting for 2018 positions after a poor year in which the club finished in 14th.
This presents a huge opportunity for Arrow who is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming forwards in the game, but he must first work for his chance and prove he deserves a spot in Brennan's new-look Titans side.
Speaking exclusively to NRL.com, Arrow said he had taken inspiration from former Broncos teammates Jarrod Wallace and Ash Taylor who went from fringe first-graders at Brisbane to regular starters at the Titans.
"Obviously there has been a new coach coming in and not many of the boys have really worked with him. It's an open book really," Arrow said.
"No spots are finalised so it's about doing my best and showing that I want it more. I'm sure all the boys will have the same mindset. There are a lot of spots up for grabs and I need to show I deserve one of those.
"I've seen guys that I played with at the Broncos come down here and do just that. It's a massive credit to them. They've worked their arses off and I'll need to do the same."
Earlier in the year Arrow tossed and turned about making the move down the M1, weighing up the huge opportunity but also considering everything the Broncos had done for him since signing him as a teenager.
His love for Brisbane almost won out, but ultimately he needed to do what was best to further his career in the NRL.
Stuck behind a plethora of forwards at the Broncos, Arrow decided to make the move, and it is a decision he made on his own accord.
"I made the decision myself. I didn't really speak to anyone about it. It was all on me and I wanted to come to the Gold Coast on my own terms," he said.
"It was really important for me to make up my mind on my own and do what I thought was the right thing for my career."
Gold Coast open their season against the Canberra Raiders on the 11th of March at Cbus Super Stadium and Arrow is sure to be doing all he can to be in the starting line-up come Round 1.
