Titans enforcer Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has shrugged off suggestions he's in doubt for Gold Coast's opening round clash against the Sharks after recovering from a minor off-season knee cleanout.
The Kangaroos prop went under the knife upon his return from International duties in England but has since been back to full fitness on the training field, excited to re-join his teammates after rep football and surgery.
"The knee is good... I've done all my rehab to get it strong and the [club's medical] team have helped me out with that," Fa'asuamaleaui told titans.com.au.
"I had my first full week last week and I'm glad to be back out with the boys and doing some tackling and getting hit the boys.
"Just to be back in that team environment is so good and I've really enjoyed being coached by Josh [Hannay] and working really hard.
"I'm loving the way we're tracking and we can only get better from here."
Relishing his time under new coach Josh Hannay - whom the 25-year-old has worked with in Queensland camp - the Titans leader has been most impressed by the standards and work ethic on display to help them for the new campaign ahead.
"We're working really hard, and not that we haven't in other years, but we have put some systems in place that are helping us grow as players and as men, especially with the stuff we're doing off the field," Fa'asuamaleaui said.
"The stuff that we're doing on the field is helping us create the systems that are going to support us when it gets tough during games.
"The work ethic the boys are setting and the standards they want to uphold has been massive and I'm joining the standard, not having to lift up the whole squad [after being away].
"I'm coming in and joining the likes of Cooper Bai and Moeaki Fotuaika [in the forward pack] who are setting those standards and it's good to be around.
"We're eager to keep working hard for Round 1."
All eyes will be on Fa'asuamaleaui's position in the forward pack come the trials with Hannay opting to make the ever-versatile Chris Randall a specialist middle in 2026, allowing the skipper to partner his Origin teammate Fotuaika to form an explosive combination up front.
"Everyone would love to be starting and we’re all competing for spots at the moment. I think nothing is ever set in stone and we have trials coming up," Randall said this week, when asked about his ambition to start the season at lock.
"Josh will have a few decisions to make… all I can do is keep training my best, put my best foot forward and hopefully I can get a starting spot, if not on the bench and be in the team."
The Titans kick-off their 2026 trials with a trip to Redcliffe to face the Dolphins on Thursday, February 12.
