Agnatius Paasi wants to earn a starting spot at the Titans in 2016

EVERY New Year, Agnatius Paasi sits down with to set his goals. But these are not the kind of New Year resolutions that get thrown out the door by February.

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EVERY New Year, Agnatius Paasi will sit down with his partner Chloe and together they will set his goals for the months ahead.

But these are not the kind of New Year resolutions that get thrown out the door by February.

These are goals that the Titans forward will chase all season long.

These are goals that he lives and breathes by.

For 2016, it’s quite simple for Paasi — all he wants to do is make the Gold Coast starting side.

His impressive pre-season has definitely helped him make a case for inclusion.

He was close to the tournament’s best player at the Auckland Nines and was also applauded by teammates and coach Neil Henry for his performance in the Gold Coast’s first trial against Parramatta two weeks ago.

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But his pre-season has also shown just how seriously he is taking the goals he set with Chloe.

Agnatius Paasi with son Agnatius Jnr, 4 months. Pic by Luke Marsden.

He said this year he has knuckled down, changed some habits and has his eyes firmly set on the prize.

“On New Year’s, me and my partner we always sit down and talk about our goals,” he told The Sunday Mail.

“That was one of my goals, to start in the 13 come the first game.

“I had to make the sacrifices myself to tick off those goals that I made.

“I’ve had to watch the portions of what I’m eating. I’ve had to cut it down a bit. I had to sometimes sacrifice Maccas or fast food. I still have some here and there but not that often.

“It helps me towards the games coming up. It gives me good confidence.”

And while he has put in a lot of hard work to achieve these goals, the 115kg prop also gives a lot of credit to his devoted partner and their two children, Manatoa, 4, and Agnatius Jr, 4 months.

He said Chloe did not just help him set those goals but now she is the one supporting him through all the steps he needs to make to achieve them.

Agnatius Paasi with sons Manatoa, 4, Agnatius Jnr, 4 months, and partner Chloe. Pic by Luke Marsden.

Paasi came over to Australia from the Warriors without his family last year and struggled off the field without them, sleeping on the floor of a friend’s apartment for several months.

But they have all settled on the Gold Coast now and Paasi said a lot has changed for the better for him from just having them around.

“What she can give to me … it’s pretty good to have them here,” he said.

“They came over in November last year. It’s happy days.

“She’s the one that does the cooking so every time I go home the food is ready. She helps me in that area. She helps a lot to get me where I need to be and with what I have to do to play well each week.

“I get to go home and finally have quality time with my two kids. I didn’t have that last year. I can help with their homework and take them to school and we can help each other.”

Now Paasi is just hoping his sacrifices pay off.

He admits that cutting back the junk food has been the easiest thing he has had to endure while chasing his dreams.

The hardest was those 12 months without those he loves the most.

But come the Gold Coast’s Round 1 match against Newcastle next Sunday, he believes it will all be worth it.

“I sacrificed it for them and my parents and my siblings,” he said of his move to Australia.

“It was a big sacrifice but at the end I’m glad to be here and hopefully I can now tick off my goals.

“I’m where I need to be. I’m happy with where I’m at. I’m fitter than last year.

“It’s good for me that I’m my ideal weight and starting the pre-season strong. Hopefully I can start game one strong too.”