Erin Clark feels the need for speed.
The Titans hooker says he knows it is an area of the game that he can improve, so he put an emphasis on working on it through the off-season with the goal of building even further through a big pre-season of training.
Clark played 19 times for the Titans last season, sharing the starting hooker role with the Mitch Rein.
With Rein now at Parramatta, Clark knows he has an opportunity to make the number nine his own.
The 24-year-old says he is under no illusions that there are others who also have desires on the hookers jersey, but he is determined to put in the hard work to ensure he has the nine on his back in round one.
"If I try my best to get as fit and as strong as I can, especially the way the game is going it is really quick now, if I can do that in the off-season it will give me a good chance to be in that position (as the starting hooker) or be in the team in general.
"In the break I did a bit of speed work and hopefully that can relate but we will see how it goes come trials.
"I'm not the quickest nine out there, so I've got a bit to work on in the off-season."
Clark, Tanah Boyd, Aaron Booth and Will Smith can all play in the dummy-half position.
The competition for spots is healthy according to Clark who says he's focussed on putting in the work to ensure he remains at the front of the pack in the race for the position.
"We've got good nines coming through," Clark said.
"I try not to get comfortable because we've got people right there.
"We've got Tanah (Boyd) at the moment who can play anywhere and the way the game is going he will suit that position as well.
"In regards to the game, I reckon it is dominated by the middles and if you win the middle you pretty much win the game."
While on-field Clark has high hopes for 2022, he's also excited to have a member of his family join the Titans family.
Clark's mother, Temepara Bailey, has signed on as the Titans inaugural netball coach.
While firmly focussed on his footy, he says he will be keen to see where his mum can take the Titans Sapphire Series side on-court in 2022.
"It'll be nice to have family here for one, but for her as a coach I know what she can bring to a team," he said.
"She's done well back home (in New Zealand) with the franchise she was with and she changed their whole season around and they made the finals.
"Hopefully us as a team we do well, but the netball team does well also."
