Josh Patston didn’t need any extra motivation stepping onto Crozier Field in Lismore yesterday.
For the Titans forward, the Northern Rivers Fan Day wasn’t just another stop on the pre-season calendar, it was home.
Born and raised in the region and a proud product of the Marist Rams, Patston returned as a Titan for the club’s community visit, reconnecting with the same streets, fields and faces that shaped his rugby league journey.
“It was really good. I always look forward to coming down here for a session, being a local boy,” Patston said.
“It is really good to come home, really good to see a few fresh faces and all the people that were supporting me through my career.”
The Titans spent several days embedded in the Northern Rivers community with school visits, community meet and greet and a fan day that drew hundreds of young and old fans.
For Patston, seeing the turnout meant just as much as the training session itself.
“It’s unreal to see,” he said.
“There was 280 juniors that signed up today, and just from the work that we’ve been doing over the past couple of days engaging the community is massive for us as a team.”
The visit also offered teammates a deeper understanding of the region’s resilience following the challenges of recent years, something Patston says puts everything into perspective.
“Being here, it probably gives the team a bit of perspective of what Lismore actually went through a few years ago,” he said.
“Just seeing the resilience this town has to come through to get to where they are today.”
Long before pulling on Titans colours, Patston was a Marist Rams junior, and he still keeps a close eye on the club’s success.
Seeing the Rams break a long premiership drought last season made his return even sweeter.
“It was something like 23 years since we last won the competition in the opens, so a long time between drinks for the Rams,” he said.
“We got there and it was unreal to see. Awesome for the town.”
Adding to an already big week, Patston also received news that marked a major personal milestone, in his first selection in the NRL Indigenous All Stars squad.
“It was a really good feeling, not only for me but also the family,” he said.
“It’s a chance for me to learn more about my culture and rub shoulders with some of those boys.”
The honour, combined with returning to the place where it all started, has given the young Titan plenty of confidence heading into the season ahead.
A hometown hero inspiring the next generation one day, and representing his culture the next means it has been a week Josh Patston won’t forget in a hurry.
