Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has been acknowledged for his effort in leading his troops against the Cowboys in a tough tussle in Townsville.
Aside from the two points for victory each year, the Titans have extra motivation in ANZAC Round with the Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG Trophy awarded to a Gold Coast player following each respective match played on the significant occasion.
The skipper dug deep with 143 run metres - 72 of those post-contact, as well as making 26 tackles to try and inspire his side, despite being on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Corporal Baird was a member of the Special Operations Task Group and was from the 2nd Commando Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, New South Wales. Corporal Baird, 32, was shot dead during a battle to take an insurgent-held compound in the village of Ghawchak, in Afghanistan’s Khod Valley, on June 22 2013.
He has been awarded the Medal of Gallantry and the Victoria Cross.
The Baird family donated the trophy in Cameron's honour last season, with the perpetual award handed out each ANZAC round to the Titans player that is deemed to have demonstrated the effort and values most similar to Cameron.
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After hearing from Cameron's father, Doug Baird, earlier in the week, Fa'asuamaleaui said the players were honoured to play for the award in Cameron's memory.
“It means so much (to play for this trophy)," Fa'asuamaleaui said.
“I wish I had met Cam.
“Doug comes in and gives us Cam’s story and we want to be like him out on the field.
“We want to do the little things right and work hard and be the team-mate that everyone wants to play with.
"All of us, we want to be like 17 Cam's out there and hopefully we do the little things right.
“It (the award) is massive for us and it is another motivation for me and all of the boys.”
AJ Brimson was the inaugural winner of the award, with his performance against the Rabbitohs in the ANZAC fixture last year deemed the one that most aligned with the trophy's values.
In memory of Cameron Baird, Cam's Cause has been formed to help solider welfare. Find out more here.
