When the Titans walk onto Cbus Super stadium for the round seven clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, it'll be Gold Coast Darrell Madge who will lead the team onto the field.
Darrell is the team strapper and a Vietnam War veteran.
Darrell first joined the Gold Coast club in 1988 and has been the constant through the era's as Giants, Seagulls, Chargers and Titans.
"I originally started with the Giants and I've come through all of them," Madge said.
"The rapport that we have with the players has lasted a long time.
"It keeps me young."
Darrell was one of more than 63,000 young Australian men ‘called up’ as part of a birthday ballot between June 1965 and December 1972 to join the services, many of whom fought in the Vietnam War. He saw action as part of the 107th Field Battery based at Nui Dat for almost ten months in 1970 before returning to Australia as one of a myriad of soldiers ostracised through no fault of their own because of their part in the most politically-controversial and polarising war in our history.
"As a Vietnam vet, we weren't recognised when we came home from there," Madge said.
"I didn't think much about it when we returned from Vietnam.
"It's been over 50 years now and I haven't really spoken about it much at all.
"I still find it hard to talk about, but I just give off a little bit here and there and the boys appreciate it."
Titans General Manager of Football Anthony Laffranchi says the whole Club is proud to honour Darrell or "Daggs" as he is known as part of the ANZAC commemorations.
"Darrell is a special member of our team, but in the ANZAC round we like to acknowledge Darrell and respect and appreciate everything he has done not only for the Club but for this country," Laffranchi said.
"I get to wear my medals with the team and lead them out and that's a big thing for me," Madge said.
Coach Justin Holbrook joined with the playing group in thanking Darrell for both his service to the Club and his country.
"Daggs got taken over to serve for our country in war, which for any young boy with a rugby league dream, to have to do that now with us living the lives that we do is very hard to take or to think of," Holbrook said.
"I want to thank Daggs for his service to our country but also what he does for our Club - he just does so much work."
