Sam Verrills believes there is a special feeling about the Gold Coast Titans this season.
Drawing similarities to the situation the Penrith Panthers were in only a few years ago, the talented recruit senses similar success could be on the horizon for his new club very soon.
When the 48-game hooker won his maiden title with the Roosters in 2019, the current back-to-back premiers had missed the top eight and were facing a plethora of public pressure and media backlash after a disappointing season that was initially full of promise.
Their squad remained relatively unchanged going into the following season, sticking with the local talent they had developed and only adding a premiership-winning hooker in Api Koroisau to bolster the side.
The rest is history with what happened next for the NRL powerhouse who have now featured in the past three grand finals.
The Gold Coast are in a very similar position... finishing last season below expectation after missing the eight, Verrills comes in as that premiership-winning dummy-half alongside 262-game veteran Kieran Foran to add welcomed experience to an otherwise very talented young squad.
This and the addition of Brett White as the minister for defence is why the new Titans No. 9 is excited about what's to come in 2023.
"I looked at Penrith's team from a few years ago when they were really young. They went through a few stages where they weren't winning games back in 2019, and then all of a sudden, they got some experience [and look at them now]. I reckon that could be us this year," Verrills told 4BC's Wide World of Sports.
"The Titans got some experience last year and were very close in a lot of their games. You go back to a few of the games last year and we weren't far from it. Obviously, the score lines blew out, but they were sometimes putting 30 points on in the game and losing by two points.
"We've brought in Brett White and he's really taking control of the defensive side. We know what wins games and we've had a lot of meetings about it in the pre-season and that's obviously defence. We've worked really hard as a team defending together and hitting well.
"We know we can score points. We've got some outstanding back there so we've just got to be a really tough group and show the rest of the NRL that we can defend well in a really close games and try and grind out wins because that's our main focus going into the season."
The huge potential of success with the skilful squad of exciting youth is why the dynamic rake now calls the Gold Coast home after a formidable four seasons at the Sydney Roosters.
"It's the whole reason I moved up here," Verrills said.
"I looked at the forward pack and the likes of Tino, Dave Fifita and I played with Isaac Liu as well and it's such a strong forward pack and I can really see myself playing well with these guys around me and obviously you then add in the likes of Kieran Foran, AJ Brimson and all that [in the backs].
"We've got a really good opportunity this year ahead of us and it's now just getting our combinations right at training which we have been lately .
"Round 1 is still a little while away but I can't wait to get started."
Another important element the club has developed to match it with the best is an immense squad depth in case of injury - something Verrills know all too well given how he got his start when he was part of the tri-colours.
"When I was there (at the Roosters), I was playing under Jake Friend for a little bit and he had to retire and at the Roosters as well, we had a lot of injuries the past two to three years," he said.
"Squad depth is a massive thing and and we've managed to get that up here on the Goldie and now it's just all about trialling and seeing how it all fits into play.
"If one does go down, we have all the confidence in the world and in the team that we've got to come in and really do a good job."
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