Since inking the deal to move to the Gold Coast, Aaron Booth had everything all worked out in his quest to play regular first grade.
Joining the Titans on a development contract after debuting with Melbourne in 2020 and playing five games for the Storm last season, the 26-year-old was on track to make the hotly-contested No. 9 jersey his own in the new colours.
But Murphy's Law intervened from virtually the moment he signed on the dotted line, injuring his shoulder before having to endure a disrupted recovery and pre-season return due to the recent COVID-19 spread across South East Queensland.
Given the setbacks Booth had to face, the easy option was to throw his hands in the air and not keep his mind focussed on his original goal of playing in Round 1, but anyone who knows Mullumbimby junior knows it's not in his nature to chuck in the towel.
'Starting to feel like a pre-season now' - Booth
"From when I signed, I had a plan in my head of how I wanted everything to fall into place, but then I hurt my shoulder and the pre-season has been disrupted," Booth said.
"I think that’s sort of what happens when you make plans. I don’t think it ever runs smoothly, but in saying that, it’s been a good pre-season and I feel fit.
"My body is coming right at the right time which is now, coming into games. If it takes longer than I originally planned to push into the team – that was my goal and still is my goal – but obviously that timeline may change and if my role isn’t in Round 1, it’s not Round 1; but if it is, I’ll definitely put my best foot forward and I’m still aiming for that.
Back training with a majority of the squad after returning from a clean-up of his shoulder due to multiple dislocations, the former Palm Beach Currumbin student is loving being back doing the hard yards, even if has meant training in the gruelling, humid Gold Coast Summer heat.
"It’s been good so far. I'm doing all the sessions now. Obviously my shoulder kept me out of a lot of the drills, but the last week or so, I’ve done a majority of the sessions and being on the field the whole time with the boys is really starting to feel like a pre-season now," Booth said.
"It still [felt like pre-season] before, but obviously today was a pretty hard session.
"It’s very hot, so it’s different to Melbourne in that sense, but it’s definitely feeling like a pre-season now and I’m enjoying being on the Coast."
Being back out in the middle with the boys has also reignited Booth's eagerness to compete, with a healthy competition for top 17 spots among the playing group inspiring the squad to continually improve everyday.
"It’s good to get that competitive side flowing again [by returning to training]," the Titans new recruit said.
"Being indoors, you’re still going hard; but being in a drill and having people run at you, trying to score points – that gets your competitive juices flowing again. It’s sparked that drive in me again.
"There’s about three weeks till the trials and I want to play in those and put my best foot forward in be in the team.
"It’s about putting my best foot forward everyday and pushing the other boys to be better and they’ll do the same for me. I think if I do that, I’ll be in the mix come game time."
This competitiveness has especially been evident among the three club rake candidates - Erin Clark, Tanah Boyd and himself - and despite Titans coach Justin Holbrook confirming Clark is set to start in the No. 9 jersey come Round 1, Booth will keep training hard for the role he relocated north for.
"I think it’s exciting for all of us to put our best foot forward and take that role," Booth said.
"The two here already in Tanah and Erin are training really well and I hope to jump on the back of that and be on their toes and keep them at their best. I want them to do the same for me because healthy competition is good competition.
"If we’re keeping each other honest on and off the field, it’s better for the team and better for us individually.
"When I signed, that position was the main driver to come here. The club is going forward and I want to better myself and get that role so if I can do that, that’s the plan."
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