Titanic potential: Palasia shares premiership hunger upon Coast homecoming

New recruit Keenan Palasia has spoken of his desire to deliver the Gold Coast their first title with his early arrival the final piece of the puzzle Des Hasler has constructed to help guide the Titans back into title contention.

Not expected until the first week of 2024, the 26-year-old showed his eagerness by reporting for duty three weeks earlier than anticipated, wanting to get cracking with his new club after heartbreakingly missing out on a premiership ring in his last game for the Broncos.

Getting a front row seat to the Nathan Cleary masterclass in the 2023 decider, the two-point loss has stoked the fire in the belly of the 53-gamer who now wants to make up for his personal disappointment by breaking his hometown’s national hoodoo upon his switch from Red Hill.

Coming home

Growing up on the Gold Coast and starting his junior footy journey only five minutes up the road from Titans HQ at Parkwood Sharks, Palasia is delighted to be back home… but maybe not as much as his family is.

“I think my mum is more excited than anyone having me back here,” he joked to titans.com.au.

The move after five seasons in Brisbane was 12 months in the making for the Palm Beach Currumbin alum, signing on the dotted line in December 2022 but having to play out the following season knowing it would be his last at the club who welcomed him to the NRL.

"It was weird, especially because I had to explain to all my mates at the Broncos that I was going to be leaving the club at the end of the season and going down the motorway," Palasia explained.

"But I was excited because I knew I wasn’t coming to a bad team. I signed with a club that is on the up and we’re not far off being a premiership team and that’s what I want to.

"I didn’t win the premiership with the Broncos, but hopefully I can win one here at the Titans."

Grand final heartache

It was an incredible finish to the 2023 season, but not for Palasia's former side who watched a 24-8 lead slip all thanks to an extraordinary 18 minutes of brilliance from the eventual Clive Churchill Medallist.

All but a lay down misère with 20 minutes to go, Cleary did the unthinkable to clinch Penrith's third-straight title and leave the new Titan heartbroken with no chance to rewrite the wrongs given his move down the M1.

But it's something he hasn't spent much time reflecting on given his immediate selection for Samoa in the Pacific Championships, followed by an off-season holiday to the US and then his change of colours, which has only motivated him to get back to the big stage in 2024.

"It was a tough loss to take, but I didn't really have the luxury of dwelling over it with the same team because I've come to a new club," Palasia said.

"Hopefully I can learn from the mistakes I did make in that game, change them and not make the same mistakes when we get to the grand final."

Wide open premiership window

Getting to Accor Stadium has Palasia dreaming big of being there once again, but this time with the Titans... and he has the belief Gold Coast have the team to do it.

“I hate the word potential… but I see a lot of potential in this team," he said.

"I think I can add a little bit to it and hopefully we can go all the way and finish with a ring at at some point in the next couple of years."

Having the leadership of five-time grand finalist Hasler at the helm alongside a number of premiership winners such as Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and senior players Isaac Liu and Kieran Foran, their expertise on how to win titles is the blue print for success.

"There's already some experience in the team... we've actually got a good combination of experience and youth," Palasia said.

"Tino has one a premiership already, Ice has won a couple and Foz has won one as well, so hopefully my loss in the grand final can contribute with their wins and we can all come out with a ring at the end."

Joining one of the NRL's best forward packs

Palasia will join a host of representative stars in the Titans forward pack.

Led by Fa'asuamaleaui with the 'c' next to his name, he will also be surrounded by representative enforcers Moeaki Fotuakia and Isaac Liu, and supported by two of the most-talented backrowers in the game in David Fifita and Beau Fermor.

Alongside the Roosters as one of the NRL's best combinations up front, it was a big reason Palasia ensured he returned home.

"The most enticing part about me signing was getting to play with them," he said.

"I watched most of the Titans games this year and I never normally watch much footy, so that says a lot.

"I was just trying to see where I can add my skill set to this team and I think I can see a few spaces where I can contribute this season coming up."

The local prop is also excited about what's to come from the Titans production line - such as young guns Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui and Josiah Pahulu who have a bright future on the Coast.

"Seeing a few of the younger local boys in the system, it's pretty good to see and I'm super excited. Hopefully I can help where I can with these younger boys and contribute where I can," Palasia said.

Taking on the Broncos

It won't be until Round 12 when Palasia takes on his old team for the first time since joining the Titans in the Macca's Local Derby at Suncorp Stadium.

On the wrong end of the result when at the Broncos in 2023, he knows how much it hurts when beaten by his mates, which will add more motivation to get the win against his former side.

"Losing the derby hurts a lot more because most mate-ships are based off picking on each other, so if you're getting the win over your friends, you're definitely not going to let them hear the end of it," Palasia said.