Gold Coast young gun Toby Sexton is eagerly counting down the days to the Titans' first trial match against the Brisbane Broncos next Saturday.
Being entrusted with the keys to the side for the upcoming season after being given a taste test of NRL last year, it doesn't take much of an imagination to understand how pumped the 20-year-old is to get his first crack at being the club's first-choice halfback.
'It’s a good opportunity to test ourselves' - Sexton
"I’m really excited to be honest. It’s been a long pre-season and I’ve put in a lot of work and feel I’ve made some good headways in my game," the young playmaker said.
"I think individually and as a team, we’re a lot further ahead than what we were last year and I think it’s all about playing footy now.
"It’s a good opportunity to test ourselves against what will be a pretty good Brisbane side I think.
"We’ve got a lot of our boys playing... a lot of our middles are playing, so it’ll be a good opportunity to see where we’re at."
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With coach Justin Holbrook still undecided on whether or not he'll unleash the fully fledged quartet to steer the youthful Titans around in the first hit-out of 2022, he has given the nod to the spine's two youngest members - Sexton and fullback Jayden Campbell - to put their pre-season preparation to the test at Cbus Super Stadium come Saturday week.
"I think JC and I will only play around 30-40 minutes," Sexton confirmed.
"It’ll be a good opportunity to get a few cobwebs out and I think we’ll be playing nearly the full 80 in the Warriors trial the week after, so it’ll be a good opportunity to stretch the legs and get back into footy."
Should AJ Brimson spend the extra week to prepare for what is expected to be a full-strength clash in Redcliffe on February 26, Sexton is keen to combine with a number of the squad's other young playmakers who'll get their opportunity to impress Holbrook, who is entering his third year on the Coast.
"We’ve got a few opportunities with Paul Turner and Will Smith there, so I think both of them are good options and I think whoever plays there will do a good job," Sexton said.
"They're both very skilful players and have a lot of similar attributes that AJ possesses.
"They play off the cuff, so I think either option is going to be a good one."
With Jamal Fogarty opting to take up an opportunity at the Raiders in the off-season, there has been a perceived expectation on the Currumbin Eagles junior to follow in his predecessor's footsteps, but the four-game rookie has in fact thrived on the responsibility of being the side's chief playmaker.
"I’m not too worried about [the pressure]. We all left on good terms and I wish [Jamal] the best of luck in his future at the Raiders," Sexton said.
"I’m here at the moment and I’ve just got to focus on that.
"The coaching staff have put a lot of confidence in me and I use that as a strength, not necessarily as a thing where if I don’t perform, I won’t be playing.
"It’s only a good thing and all I have to do now is my job for the team and hopefully that goes a long way to the results we want."
The trust from Holbrook to be the Gold Coast's key lynchpin has empowered Sexton to grow as a leader during the recent pre-season, notably increasing his communication around sessions at Parkwood.
"We do a lot of things as a group about our culture and a big thing was me talking more and I definitely take a lot of confidence from that," Sexton said.
"Being a halfback, you have to be a good communicator and I know that’s one of my biggest attributes in myself.
"If I can do that, I’m definitely contributing to the team in a positive way and I think that’s my role in the team.
"If you look at the likes of AJ and JC, they’re both very natural footy players but not massive communicators. I think if they’re going to go well, I need to be the main communicator and get the side around the park.
"If I can do that, I feel I’m contributing to the team in a positive way."
The new Titans half isn't going to be the only youngster running around the NRL with the No. 7 on his back in 2022. The Roosters are set to amp up 19-year-old Sam Walker's involvement - a former teammate of Sexton's - and the Palm Beach Currumbin alumni feels youth is how success in the game is evolving.
"I played junior footy with Sam… I think it was under 6s with him at Burleigh back when we were young fellas. We linked up for the Australia Schoolboys and he’s a freak of a player. I loved playing with him," Sexton said.
"I think the game has turned into a young man’s game in a way.
"The speed of the game and the way it’s adapting, I think a lot of young people coming through are having a lot of success and I’m hoping to replicate that."
All will be put to the test in the Gold Coast's first outing up against the Broncos on Saturday, February 19, and Sexton is hoping see the Legion in full force for the club's first game of the year.
"It’s a great way to start the year off with the local derby against the Broncs. They’re hopefully going to field a good team," Sexton said.
"The way we ended last year, this club and the whole city has a lot to look forward to this year and we want to start off with a bang against the Broncos.
"I’m hoping to see as many people as possible come and watch us because it’s going to be a great match and we’re really looking forward to it as a team."
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