He's only 24 and about to enter his fourth season in the NRL, but Beau Fermor says he's determined to lead from the front.
The backrower established himself in the Titans starting side in 2022, having a strong individual season that saw him play 23 games.
Despite not playing finals football as a team, the former Dalby Devil says he enters pre-season with confidence.
"I'll be doing what I always do (in pre-season), train hard and play hard when the season rolls around," Fermor said.
"I was happy with my year last year and it fills me with a bit more confidence that I can play at the top level consistently.
"I just want to keep improving and keep adding things to my game in 2023."
Fermor is among a group of players including Sam McIntyre, Brian Kelly and Tanah Boyd who have returned to pre-season training this week.
With the club's younger brigade and a host of train and trial players already two weeks into their pre-season, Fermor says he wants to ensure they look to his example.
"I'm probably not the most outspoken person in front of the group, but if I can lead with my actions and show them what our club is about ... that is how I want to lead," he said.
"I want to show them what it takes to be a Gold Coast Titans player and hopefully a few of them can follow."
Fermor's impressive year saw him enter the conversation for higher honours.
Selected the the extended Queensland Origin squad, he knows a Maroons debut could be on the horizon if he can perform for the Gold Coast.
He also captured the attention of Australian selectors, who picked him for the Prime Ministers 13 fixture against Papua New Guinea.
"I know it wasn't the Australian team over in England (at the World Cup), but to wear that iconic green and gold was a really proud moment for myself and my family," he said.
"The whole camp and the game was such a fun week and I really enjoyed it.
"Everyone that plays footy that is Australian wants to pull on that jersey one day.
"The Kangaroos and Maroons jerseys are something that as a kid I've always wanted to pull on.
"If I get to play for either of those teams it means I'm playing well for the Titans week in, week out and that'll be why those opportunities present themselves."
Fermor doesn't shy away from his ambition to achieve rep honours. He says he hopes there are plenty of Gold Coast players selected in 2023 as it'll mean that the club is performing on-field.
"If we are getting four or five people in the Origin team and more boys representing their countries than that is only a good thing for the team.
"That would mean they're playing well for the Titans and when we are playing well together hopefully we are getting a lot more wins."
