NRL 2021: Sea Eagles’ act of generosity and goodwill built on Titmuss’ family strength, courage
In what is a heartwarming and inspiring gesture, the Sea Eagles have paid the Titmuss family the entire sum which Keith was to earn through his 2021 contract.
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This is the touching story that will inspire and motivate two Manly stars heading into their first NRL finals series.
Sea Eagles try-scoring freak, Jason Saab, and backrow sensation, Josh Schuster, were great mates of rising Manly forward Keith Titmuss, who passed away after collapsing at pre-season training on November 23.
The Daily Telegraph can now reveal that Manly has paid Titmuss’ family the entire $100,000 that Keith was to earn through his 2021 contract.
The club’s act of generosity and goodwill was inspired by the Titmuss’ family strength and courage.
Manly honoured Titmuss’ deal despite not having any contractual obligation to do so.
The Titmuss family has been stunned by Manly’s magnanimous act.
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The contract money has been placed into Titmuss’ estate and Manly has vowed to continue supporting the family.
Titmuss died aged 23 with the official cause of death still unknown.
One source close to Manly said: “It’s what footy clubs and sport in general is all about – trying to help those who need it. Keith was much loved at Manly and he has a beautiful family.”
Saab and Schuster were particularly close to Titmuss.
Schuster and Titmuss attended Mount Pritchard Primary School together before reuniting at Westfields Sports High in Fairfield West.
The pair were 15-year friends. In fact, it was Titmuss’ decision to join Manly which led to Schuster leaving the Parramatta junior rugby league system at aged 15 to join the Sea Eagles.
The scorer of 23 tries this season, Saab also attended Westfields Sports High with Schuster and Titmuss.
Saab has dedicated his 2021 season to Titmuss and even wears a custom-made mouth guard inscripted with his mate’s official number at Manly — 623.
Schuster has a routine where he scrawls ‘KT’ — Titmuss’ initials — on his wrist strapping before each game.
When Titmuss passed away, Schuster wrote: “My brother … my best mate … I don’t know how to put into words how broken I am.
“You were my best mate since primary school … all the jokes and all the time you used to bully me in tackle footy … and your kindness and respect towards people, I’m going to miss you brother.”
In March, Saab told The Daily Telegraph: “I’ll do as many things as I can to honour him every time I take the field, but the most important way is to carry him in my head and my heart.
“He’s my motivation. I’d know what he would want me to do and that is what I’m trying to do. He believed in me and if I wasn’t getting a run he would be defending me.
“Keith was extremely loyal. I owe it to him. That’s why I do what I do now, in memory of him, to try and make everything I do on the field related to him.”
Titmuss’ mum, Lofa, often posts on social media expressing her pride at how strongly Schuster and Saab have been playing this season.
Just days after their son’s death, Lofa said: “Parents should never have to bury their child. We never thought we would be those parents that say those words. We are full of tears.”
Manly is preparing for Friday night’s top four finals game against Melbourne at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Try of the year contender as Manly seal top-four berth
— Nicholas Wright
In the space of two minutes, Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic sent an ominous warning to his finals rivals: he had no intention of slowing down.
Even a whisper of the full-back’s name sends shivers through the opposing dressing room, such has been the magic vein of form he finds himself in.
In the Sea Eagles’ 46-18 triumph over the Cowboys, arguably the NRL’s finest player ensured the Townsville faithful would remember what he brings to the field as he prepares to do the same against the Melbourne Storm.
A bright start from North Queensland failed to halt the Trbojevic show, although it slowed it down for a period. In fact it was a ‘Tommy Turbo’ error on the Cowboys line which kick started proceedings.
Livewire teenager Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow pounced on the loose ball, running the length of the field and fending off Jason Saab in the process to open the scoring.
But Trbojevic and his brother Jake were sniffing.
Set for set Manly made small territorial inroads, and that enabled Saab to earn his revenge. The towering winger leapt above opposite number Murray Taulagi to touch down off a Daly Cherry-Evans cross field kick.
That was invitation enough for Trbojevic to declare the game his own.
With just three minutes remaining in the first half, the ace number one latched onto an inside pass from Kieran Foran, bursting into the clear before putting his brother over to score.
From the following set, he did it all on his own.
Yet another short ball from Foran put Trbojevic in the clear yet again, this time burning Valentine Holmes on the outside to score himself.
The 24-year-old quietened down for much of the second stanza, however with seven minutes on the clock he toyed with the Cowboys, shrugging off several would-be defenders to cross yet again.
He even found time late in the piece to add another highlight to his reel, breaking into the back field and putting Daly Cherry-Evans over untouched.
Cherry-Evans was quick to return the favour. On the final play of the game, a Reuben Garrick break from his own in goal put his skipper down the sideline, who kicked back on the inside for Trbojevic to score his third.
He finished with formidable numbers – three tries, 246 running metres, 14 tackle busts, four line breaks, two line break assists and two try assists – while a desperate effort from Haumolo Olakau’atu to keep a kick from travelling dead in goal put Jake over for his second as well.
If there is any danger to Melbourne’s quest for back to back titles, it will take the shape of a fit and firing Trbojevic.
IS 2022 HAMMER’S TIME?
He barely lasted 10 minutes, but Tabuai-Fidow did enough in his short stint to signal his long-term potential at the back.
The 19-year-old has been eagerly watched by rugby league pundits ever since he set the Perth Nines alight at the start of 2020.
Blessed with blinding speed – the extent of which no one is truly sure – Tabuai-Fidow started the season in the centres as coach Todd Payten attempted to give the young sensation plenty of possession.
He impressed enough to garner a State of Origin debut for Queensland, but it has been at fullback where he has shone brightest.
When marquee man Holmes succumbed to a shoulder injury during the Maroons Game III victory, Tabuai-Fidow was moved to fullback, and in turn was only not selected there when an emergency appendectomy forced him to the sidelines.
From his four appearance with the number one on his back, the youngster has thrived.
What appeared to be a hamstring concern ended his night prematurely, but in his brief time on the field Tabuai-Fidow still amassed 131 running metres, three tackle busts a line break and a try.
From his four matches at the back, the wunderkind has averaged 156m and more than four tackle busts a game to go with three tries and four linebreaks.
Payten confirmed in the latter stages of the season that Tabuai-Fidow and Holmes would restart their battle for the fullback spot once the pre-season began, but 2022 could reshape how their careers eventuate in Townsville.
Holmes was signed from the NFL on a big money deal to be the Cowboys’ fullback, however he has never completely owned the jumper. He was moved to his favoured role when his young teammates left the field, finishing with 138m and a try assist.
Tabuai-Fidow, meanwhile, comes off contract at the end of next season, and could command huge offers. He has also previously indicated fullback is his preferred position.
From the moment North Queensland launch their pre-season, the fight for their respective futures will begin.
FINDING THE KILLER BLOW
Manly may have had a stranglehold on the majority of the contest, but it was not until the final 10 minutes that they truly put the Cowboys away.
A try early in the second half to Jordan McLean – during which he carried four defenders over the line – got North Queensland within six points, while a Murray Taulagi intercept and breakaway ended mere metres and a brilliant Saab covering tackle away from levelling the scores.
Once the Sea Eagles kicked clear again, a Ben Condon four-pointer kept the challenge alive and within six points.
With 10 minutes to play, Reuben Garrick – who brought up an NRL record of 300 points in a season – put the nail in the coffin by making the tough look seamless, latching onto a bomb to score and end North Queensland’s hopes.
From there, they ran away with it, finishing with four unanswered tries in the final stages.
Yet Des Hasler’s men will be determined to be more clinical earlier against the likes of Melbourne and South Sydney once finals get underway.
Against the more punishing outfits, Manly may not get as many chances to put a contest to bed.
DRAW STACKS DECK IN HASLER’S FAVOUR
He appeared to have his cards marked after four rounds – now he holds all the cards.
Manly coach Des Hasler has the unprecedented luxury of potentially resting players or overhauling his rotation and interchange this weekend – thanks to the NRL draw.
He isn’t a gambling man but Hasler now holds all the aces.
Hasler will know the results of other top-four defining games before his side’s match against North Queensland on Saturday.
After a 0-4 start to the season, Hasler’s Sea Eagles sit in fourth place on 32 competition points alongside fifth-ranked Parramatta and the sixth-placed Sydney Roosters.
The Roosters play Canberra on Thursday night in Mackay before Parramatta confront Penrith on Friday evening on the Gold Coast.
With Manly kicking at 5.30pm on Saturday, Hasler will know exactly what his side needs to do to claim the all-important fourth place.
Hasler may consider resting key players should the Raiders and Panthers win, results which would guarantee Manly fourth place before their match starts against North Queensland.
Will Hasler rest superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic? What about brother Jake? Daly Cherry-Evans?
Will he give more game time to key players returning from injury? Will he replace Tom early in the match?
Never mind Kenny Rogers, Des Hasler has become the gambler.
The Manly coach has stated previously he isn’t a massive fan of resting players before the finals but he is certain to restructure his interchange for the Cowboys match.
That would allow underdone returning forwards Taniela Paseka and Sean Keppie more game time if the match is effectively a dead rubber.
It could also mean star players like the Trbojevic brothers and Cherry-Evans may be replaced and rested well before full-time.
Paseka is back from injury while Keppie has returned to Queensland after flying home for the birth of his first child.
Those close to Manly say Hasler won’t be tempted to rest Tom Trbojevic for the game.
“The top four is very important,” said Manly hooker, Lachlan Croker. “It’s something over the last couple of weeks we have had in the back of our minds. And the footy we have been playing has allowed us to have a crack at it.
“It’s another must-win this weekend and it’s probably a step in the right direction to get us ready for finals footy.”
Manly forward Jake Trbojevic added: “We just want to keep improving and get better as players and a team.”
The Roosters are $1.67 favourites against Canberra ($2.20), according to the TAB, with Parramatta $11 outsiders against Penrith ($1.03). Manly is $1.07 favourites to defeat North Queensland ($8).
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Sea Eagles’ act of generosity and goodwill built on Titmuss’ family strength, courage
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