Titans rookie Tanah Boyd hopes he is not the last NRL debutant to have his dream moment captured by a hidden camera after a video capturing the talented halfback’s reaction to his selection in the Gold Coast’s top squad went viral last week.
Boyd became Titans No.150 when he made his NRL debut against the Newcastle Knights on the weekend, and while the result was not what Boyd or the Titans had hoped for, the experience was unforgettable for the 19-year-old.
“It was pretty special, besides the result,” Boyd said. “I just had to soak it all up and enjoy it.
“The boys were just telling me to have fun and do my job. Although we didn’t get the result, I was still pretty happy. Just to get that debut was pretty good.”
While Boyd had to cool his heels on the interchange bench for 50 minutes before being thrown into the action against the Knights, he acquitted himself well on a tough afternoon for the visitors.
“I wasn’t nervous at all,” he said. “I had a pretty simple role, and that was to just make my tackles and get my passes out in front.
“I wasn’t even that nervous. The boys were talking to me throughout the week, and I was pretty lucky to have ‘Flash’ (Michael Gordon) as my roomie.”
Boyd got an early taste of the spotlight when video of the moment Titans coaches Craig Hodges and Luke Burt told him he would be making his debut against the Knights went public.
Boyd could not hold back his emotions, shedding a tear as he double-checked to make sure Hodges was not joking with him, and later making emotional phone calls to his mother and father to share the good news.
Boyd said the video, and others like it that have captured special, behind-the-scenes moments were wonderful ways for fans to feel more of a connection with the players.
“I actually saw the camera,” he said. “I was just walking around up there and saw the camera, and didn’t take any notice of it.
“I just went in and Hodgo broke the news. I didn’t even expect it. It was pretty special.
“It is awesome to see those reactions when players make their debut. It is a very special time for players.
“There is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes into it. To give the fans the insight into that, that is what they want to see. Hopefully we can keep doing more of it.”
