A new contender has joined the mix in the Titans' No. 7 jersey battle with youngster Tom Weaver declaring his ambition to crack into the Gold Coast's top 17.
Upgraded to the club's top 30 roster for 2023, the 19-year-old is one of four possible options for Justin Holbrook ahead of the new season, alongside Tanah Boyd, Toby Sexton and incoming playmaker Kieran Foran who all are vying for the key linchpin position.
It was a year of growth for the Future Titans product, starting the year in the Hastings Deering Colts before an Under 19 Origin call-up for New South Wales helped him earn a Cup debut for Tweed, and next on the agenda for the Cudgen Hornets junior is the big stage.
"Last season was a big step up for me going into development straight out of school and it was just all about learning," he said.
"This year, I've had that experience and I definitely want to take that next step forward and push for a spot in the top 17.
"That's probably my biggest goal for next year."
Getting a taste for the next level by making his Hostplus Cup debut in mid-July for the Tweed Seagulls, the Palm Beach Currumbin alumni is also hoping to feature more in the premier Queensland competition after only two appearances in 2022.
"It was a good experience and my debut was against Redcliffe and they were one of the teams to play in the grand final. It was definitely a big eye opener," Weaver said.
"It gave me a lot of confidence coming out of that knowing that I'd lasted out there playing with those boys, so it definitely gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.
"Hopefully I get a few more games playing Cup next year."
Weaver's biggest learning of his first full season in an NRL system has been the intensity, which has set himself.
"[The biggest learning was] definitely how tough it is with the training loads. You don't realise when you're at school. You do train a little bit at school footy, but the workload that you get when you come out is definitely a big step up," he said.
"I've learnt how to handle that and with recovery and all that sort of stuff, As well as that, what you eat and pay what you put in your body. definitely goes a long way to helping you."
These important understandings has helped shape the young playmaker with some key goals in 2023 to help his bid to crack into the top grade.
"This pre-season, I want to build my body up to a certain weight and strength that I'll be able to handle playing week-in, week-out footy against men," Weaver said.
"'I'll have to take those steps forward playing more Cup games.
"I also just want to be able to dominate that level before I take that next step up into the NRL."
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