Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui went under the knife at the end of his rookie season, fixing a shoulder complaint that troubled him at the back end of 2023.
Starting the season on the club's development list, the younger brother of club captain Tino, Iszac managed 13 NRL games in his first full season in first grade.
He says the shoulder is now fixed and ready for the rigors of the 2024 season, but notes that it's disrupted his pre-season preparations.
Not that you'd know, with the 22-year-old among the Titans best in the club's first-up trial against the Dolphins.
"It was good to finally get some footy with the boys," Fa'asaumaleaui said.
"I hadn't really done much of a pre-season this year because I was trying to get my shoulder right so it was good to be back on the field.
"I had surgery on my AC joint and I've been trying to recover from that and it took a bit longer than expected.
"It pulled up really good (after the trial), I was concerned to see how it went.
"I had only been back for week of training before this game and it pulled up very good."
With Keenan Palasia joining the club this season and Beau Fermor returning from an ACL injury, Fa'asuamaleaui knows that competition for spots in the forward pack will be stronger than ever.
"I'd love to play in the 17 every week," he said.
"The team is a lot harder this year, so it will be more of a challenge for myself but I will try and put my best foot forward each week and hopefully get my foot in the door."
While many were impressed with the performance of the young Titans against a near full-strength Dolphins lineup, Fa'asuamaleaui said it came as no shock to him as the game plan was simple.
"Des wanted us to work as a team and work hard, so I think everyone was stepping up," he said.
"The standards are that high that he only expects one thing for us as a player and that is to know our role."
Iszac will be joined by Tino in the Titans side for the club's major trial this weekend against the Parramatta Eels at North Ipswich Reserve.
He says despite wearing the same jersey and training and playing alongside his brother, the elder Fa'asuamaleaui still remains his role model.
"I look up to him (Tino) every day of my life," he said.
"I look at him as a player and I want to be a similar sort of player."
