Young props Moeaki Fotuaika and Max King have made a pact with each other to make a difference to the Titans when they come off the interchange bench against the Canberra Raiders this Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium.
Fotuaika burst on to the scene in 2018 after his Round 9 debut against the Raiders, going on to play 16 NRL games last season.
King made his mark in 2017, but a shoulder injury that ultimately resulted in a reconstruction hampered his second season.
But King insists the enforced long lay-off has served him well.
“It was a long road,” King said. “It was good for me in the sense I could put some weight on and get my body right, but I’m ready to go.”
A long and tough pre-season, backed up with some good trial form, has seen the Maitland junior rewarded with a bench spot for the season-opener against the Raiders.
With the likes of new recruit Shannon Boyd, Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace starting in the middle of the park, King and Fotuaika will be looking to come on and continue on with the hard work done before them.
“They set an awesome platform for us,” King said of the starting forwards.
“The job for Moe and I is to come on, add some impact and keeping that momentum going.
“That’s my role in the team. I’m really happy with the team, and the depth in the squad. If I can do anything to take the team forward, that’ll be good.”
Fotuaika, identified by critics as one of the young stars set to shine in the NRL this season, says he aims to deliver on that potential on Sunday.
“That’s pretty much our main focus,” Fotuaika said.
“We need to keep the roll-on going, and – if we can – add a little bit more. We need to continue on from the work the starting forwards do early on.”
