Titans firebrand Tino Fa'asuamaleaui says he 'can't wait to test himself against the best' when he and his teammates take on the Canberra Raiders tomorrow evening.
"It is going to be a big a big step up, they are obviously one of the top teams in the comp, but we are excited and can't wait to get out and see how we go against the best," Fa'asuamaleaui said.
"They are always good, they always start well. They have been a very tough team and were a bit unlucky with their injuries last weekend, but hopefully we can give it to them and stick it to them tomorrow.
"There focus will be to not go back to back losses and they will be ready for this game, but this just makes us more excited to compete with them to see how we go and where we are at with our game.
"I am excited to go out there and test myself and test ourselves against the best (teams).
Asked about his own game and strong start to the season, Fa'asuamaleaui still wants to improve on his first few rounds that have featured an average of 157 running metres and 29 tackles.
"Just to improve on the little things - my defense and my ball handling last week wasn't too good, so I want to improve on them and do the boys proud," he said.
"It's been good (the move to the Gold Coast) and I am enjoying it a lot and I am close to all the boys now and I just can't wait to keep playing more footy with them and keep creating better combinations, so I have been enjoying it a lot.
"We have got a lot of improvement in our game for all of us, we are heading in the right direction which is good, but we need to keep going with the little things."
The Titans had been slated to play the Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium this week but after a COVID breakout in South East Queensland the team has been moved temporarily to Sydney, but Fa'asuamaleaui says that isn't going to be used as a distraction for the side.
"It's been a bit different. We are all settled down at the hotel and everyone is looking after us," he said.
"It isn't the ideal preparation but that is the world we are living at the moment - you have just got to adapt and overcome whatever happens and we are doing that at the moment and I just can't wait to get out there tomorrow."
The Titans clash with the Raiders has re-ignited the talk about Josh Papalii chasing down Jamal Fogarty in last years match and the team and club have had some fun with the concept this week - something Tino says the team have enjoyed as well.
"That was pretty funny ('I. AM. FAST.' below) and I had a bit of a giggle to that, pretty creative from our media team and good banter," he said.
"Just a bit of banter between the boys and a bit of fun, I reckon."
I. AM. FAST.
