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Eyes on the prize: Tino focussed on delivering Titans' first premiership

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui hopes to one day walk into the Titans team room and see a picture of the Gold Coast celebrating their first premiership.

It was one of the main reasons he joined the club; and his passion, pride and drive to achieve this is why the 21-year-old is now leading the charge to bring two NRL titles to the Coast by 2030.

'It means a lot to me' - Fa'asuamaleaui

"That’s the reason I moved here. I want to bring that first trophy here to the Gold Coast Titans," the newly-appointed captain said.

"It’s going to be massive to us and that’s our goal here this year. That’s going to be our goal every year to win that trophy.

"As long as we keep getting better each game, each week and each year, that’s the main thing.

"Hopefully one day, we can bring that trophy here and it’ll be pretty amazing to have a picture on one of these walls [in the club team room] holding it up."

Growing up in Gympie - 240 kilometres north of Titans HQ - the Origin forward still pinches himself every day that he's a professional rugby league star, let alone lifting NRL and Origin silverware as well as now being appointed a club captain at the ripe old age of 21.

"Growing up, I never thought I’d ever be an NRL player, let alone a NRL captain," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"To be selected as a captain is pretty amazing and I just want to lead the boys and do the best I can.

"It’s humbling I am able to represent my family and represent this great club and hopefully strive for something massive in the future.

"It’s hard to explain. I just never thought it would happen."

A loving father to 2-year-old Alina with partner Jordan, his captaincy appointment means a lot to not only the Samoan International, but to his family as well, who instilled confidence and belief that he​ was the right man to take charge of the Titans.

"It means a lot to me. I’ve spoken with my family and that, and I had a lot of emotions the day I was told I was going to be the captain from Justin (Holbrook)," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"It was actually a few months ago [Justin approached me].

"He just asked how I would feel if I was the captain and I just sort of said that I’d take it with two hands, but I wasn’t as confident as I am now.

"I believe in this group and I feel more confident that I’ve got the support behind me and we can achieve good things together."

Despite having the 'c' next to his name, Titans members and fans will see no difference to the way the Titans enforcer plays, vowing not to change even with the added responsibility.

"I just want to be me and lead with my actions," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"I want to be that person the boys can rely on the field and at training and I don’t want to let anyone down.

"I just want to go out there and give it my best every game and just know that the boys want to play next to me and that’s the same when I look at the boys... I want to play next to them all.

"It’s just about doing the little efforts and I just want to be that player that leads from the front and doesn’t let anyone down."

Playing under some great leaders in the past - including the likes of Cameron Smith at the Storm and current Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans - there is one former Storm teammate in particular the young forward will turn to for advice for his new role.

"For me, it’s Jesse Bromwich. I’m really close with him," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"The way he is as a player and the way he is as a leader down there (at Melbourne) is something I look up to.

"I want to base my leadership the way he goes around as a leader, but in my own way.

"If I do need help, I’ll definitely send him a message."

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Acknowledgement of Country

Gold Coast Titans proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout South East Queensland.