Young Weaver gets NRL taste test ahead of Tweed's must-win fortnight

Tom Weaver has gotten the full NRL experience this week with the young half joining the Titans squad travelling to Sydney for their Round 24 clash.

Named in Jim Lenihan's 22-man line-up to face the Sharks on Friday night, the 20-year-old has taken advantage of his late weekend Hostplus Cup fixture, getting the change to be part of the playing group heading interstate to get a taste of what first grade looks like in his first trip away with the Gold Coast.

Learning off the likes of Kieran Foran, Tanah Boyd and AJ Brimson at Titans training over the past year with the hope of an NRL call-up in the near distant future, Weaver impressed many in the pre-season trials with his performance in the halves, but he's in no rush for a first grade debut, happy to continue to apply his craft with the Tweed Seagulls.

"Those boys have been massive for me and my development," he said.

"Being in the 22 this week, I think I'm just going to get a bit of a feel for it and knowing what it's like being around the boys and stuff. Especially towards the back end of the week.

"But look, I'm just happy chipping away for the rest of the year and see what happens."

Speaking at the Titans' expansion of their current affiliation with Tweed which has been extended a further two seasons, the Northern Rivers junior is excited for the Coast to continue their partnership with Tweed, especially having learnt so much in his first full year in the Hostplus Cup.

"Being a local junior from the Tweed area and being able to see our NRL team affiliate with the local team here for a further two years is massive," Weaver said.

"As someone that's come through the ranks here at Tweed as an Under 18s, 21s and now Q-Cup player, I think it's a massive step forward.

"[This year especially], I think just playing against men week-in, week-out at Tweed has really helped me [grow as a player].

"I've never done that before and I think also it's taught me how important recovery is.

"You play week after week against men and get hit, which causes you to be bashed and bruised a fair bit more than when you're playing against just players your own age, so I think the recovery thing comes into it a lot more as well."

Named to return to Piggabeen this Sunday to face the Ipswich Jets in a must-win clash for the Seagulls, the win will set them up with a do-or-die final week blockbuster against the Falcons to ensure they are part of playing finals footy in 2023.

"It's a massive game this week against Ipswich and then we have Sunny Coast to finish off the regular season," Weaver said.

"Looking forward, we've put ourselves in a bit of a tough situation going into finals, but I think we can all come together as a team and step forward and have a really strong push going into finals."