Gold Coast Titans to debut Tanah Boyd against Newcastle Knights

He’s got the looks of Allan Langer in his prime and the Titans will hope he has at least some of Alf’s talent, with the Gold Coast set to debut Tanah Boyd against Newcastle today.

The Titans will unveil an Allan Langer-lookalike today with teenage halfback sensation Tanah Boyd to make his NRL debut in Gold Coast’s clash against the Knights in Newcastle.

The Courier-Mail can reveal blond-haired dynamo Boyd will be blooded in a supersub role at McDonald Jones Stadium as Titans culture boss Mal Meninga looks to homegrown youth to inspire a new era next season.

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Meninga was so impressed by Boyd’s attitude and junior representative pedigree the Australian coach poached the Runaway Bay product from the Broncos in June.

Tanah Boyd during a Gold Coast Titans training session last month. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

Now the Australian Schoolboys ace gets his big break, with the 19-year-old to achieve his childhood dream when he runs on to the NRL stage in his maiden outing in Titans colours.

The Titans have kept his selection a closely-guarded secret but Boyd has been privately informed of his debut.

When told by caretaker coach Craig Hodges, Boyd shed a tear, his Knights baptism vindication for his mid-season move from Big Brother the Broncos.

Titans forward Will Matthews will be culled from the final 17 to make way for Boyd, who will come off the bench as either back-up to hooker Nathan Peats or halves Ryley Jacks and Tyrone Peachey.

Boyd (centre) with fellow Keebra Park students Jono Siofele, Billy Mozer, Geordie Brand, David Fifta, Sebastian Winter Chang and Ioane Seuili in 2015.

“It’s pretty special,” Boyd said.

“I was only talking to Dad the other night saying I might not get a crack this year, but here we are.

“Playing NRL is what I’ve been looking forward to since I was three or four years old – this is always what I’ve wanted to do.

“It (his debut) will mean the world to my family and my friends as well.

“The boys have been really welcoming, it’s been a good move.”

While Boyd has a long way to go to match Langer’s on-field greatness, their physical parallels are undeniable. There is the blond hair, the pint-sized physique, the crafty attacking game and the quiet self-belief that has seen Boyd represent Queensland at under-18s and under-20s level.

Like Alfie, Boyd was born in the month of July and is ready to turn up the heat on struggling Titans halfback Ash Taylor in the battle for the No.7 jumper next season.

Souths Logan Intrust Super Cup coach Jon Buchanan, who coached Boyd at the Magpies this season before his move to the Titans, said the playmaker has the work ethic to be an NRL regular.

“He’s a competitive little bugger,” he said.

“I haven’t seen too many kids as professional as Tanah at his age. A lot of kids his age aren’t ready for the demands of professionalism but Tanah’s preparation away from footy is outstanding.

“He works really hard on his body, so he is giving himself every chance to succeed as an NRL player.”

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Titans coach Hodges is wary of a Knights side stung by criticism of their woeful 46-4 loss to the Tigers last week.

“The Newcastle players have been under attack so they will want to make up for that and prove everyone wrong,” he said.

“They have some quality players and when you poke them, they can become dangerous.

“But if we can continue our progress from recent weeks, I’m confident we can have some success.”