The fastest Titans player ever has been just as quick to commit his future to the Club, with winger Phillip Sami re-signing with the Gold Coast until the end of the 2022 season.
Sami was being chased by a number of rival Clubs after impressing in the first 42 games of his NRL career with the Titans.
His highlights so far include a hat-trick of tries against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in 2018, and his famous pursuit of Josh Add-Carr this season against Melbourne that earnt Sami the nickname “the Hound” because he chased down “the Foxx” – hitting a Titans record top speed of 35.9km/h in the process.
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But the Ipswich junior said the chance to stay a part of the Titans’ resurgence under new coach Justin Holbrook, while staying close to family and friends on the Gold Coast made the decision to “stay home” at the Titans an easy choice.
“Obviously I had decisions to make in the off-season and the start of the pre-season,” Sami said. “I went back to the family, and they are very happy that I am staying home. I am very grateful for the opportunity that Justin has given me. Hopefully I can make the most of it here.
“On the off-season I had other clubs chasing me, and pretty much in the last two weeks my manager went back to the Titans – as in Ezra (Recruitment Manager Ezra Howe) and Justin – and told them the situation I was in.
“I was thankful that the Titans came back with an offer. For me, choosing to stay home is a big part of what I want to do here. I know this club has a big future, so I wanted to be a part of it.”
Sami said the chance to stay nestled in his off-field support network and remain with the Club he first represented in the Under-20s were most important to him.
“You have the plus side of having family here, and friends here that I have known for a long time,” he said. “So staying home was big part of my plans, and I am very grateful that the Titans gave me an opportunity to do that.”
Sami said he is now devoting his energy to making sure other Gold Coast juniors, like the off-contract AJ Brimson, follow his lead and stay with the Titans.
“I had a word with him about it, so hopefully he stays too,” Sami said.
