Titans young guns Sam Stephenson and Zane Harrison have been given a valuable insight to becoming a professional rugby league player at the recent NRL Rookie Camp held in Sydney.
This annual event helps educate newcomers about social responsibility; covering topics such as social media, respectful relationships, and mental health and wellbeing.
Run by former and current NRL players, the camp aims to celebrate how far the rookies have come on their rugby league journey but also educate them on how to use their platform in a positive way at their clubs and in the community.
A highlight of the educational weekend was a session with former high-profile stars Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney, who shared their experiences at the top level, including sharing the highs they reached as well as an honest reflection on the mistakes they made during their professional careers.
Titans football operations officer Corey Thompson attended the camp with both Stephenson and Harrison and believes it was very valuable for the Gold Coast duo.
"It was a great camp for our Titans rookies and really important they attended to get a better understanding of the off-field responsibilities they have as professional rugby league players," he said.
"Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney opening up on all their highs and lows was extremely impactful given how successful the pair were during their time in the NRL, but there were also a number of other sessions that were insightful.
"The boys also learned how to invest and save money with a financial seminar, and they also got pushed out of their comfort zone with a session on cultural dance."
Both Stephenson and Harrison have joined the Gold Coast's development roster in 2025 after graduating from the club's Future Titans pathways program.
