Jai Arrow believes he still has to earn his spot at the Gold Coast Titans

Jai Arrow went from Broncos battle to Gold Coast and Queensland star last year but the workaholic lock still thinks he’ll have to earn his place in first grade every week.

Jai Arrow and the Titans team train at Cbus Stadium in Robina. Pics Adam Head

• NEW CAP: Smith wants salary exemptions

• EXPAND: Bennett says Brisbane needs a second team

He was one of the NRL’s most impressive locks last season but the Gold Coast’s Jai Arrow isn’t satisfied just yet.

Arrow enjoyed a breakout 2018 season at Robina, busting 47 tackles for 1156 post-contact metres and 38 offloads, along with 635 tackles in 21 games.

The stats are streets ahead of his 24-game stint at Red Hill – 13 tackle busts for 504 post-contact metres, 12 offloads and 388 tackles – and a well-deserved Origin nod last season saw his game reach greater heights.

Arrow hit his straps in Game 3 with an impressive 42-minute start from prop and the 101kg wrecking ball remains grateful for the call-up.

Arrow emerged as one of the Gold Coast’s top players last season.

But with an imposing Titans pack to draw on and gun halves Ash Taylor and Tyrone Peachey pulling the strings, Arrow wants to see himself spearheading an NRL finals charge on the Gold Coast.

“I definitely appreciated the opportunities I got with the Titans and with Origin as well, so I enjoyed the year but I’m not going to sit back and relax now,” Arrow said.

“I just want to be a better player and I think this has probably been my best pre-season this year, so I’m just looking forward to getting out there and playing some footy.

“We’ve got the talent to be there come finals time.”

Arrow started in the Titans’ trial loss to Brisbane but predicted coach Garth Brennan to have plenty of headaches come their season opener against Canberra at Cbus Super Stadium Sunday week.

Arrow will start the season at lock for the Titans. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“I think we’ve recruited really well with big Shannon Boyd coming down and guys like Tyrone Peachey who’s a really classy player, so we’ve got good depth this year and it’s exciting times for us,” he said.

“Boydy’s a good fella and another big body who’s handy to have around, so I’m looking forward to seeing him come off the back fence.

“But it’s tight all around the park and I couldn’t tell you who’d be in the team come Round 1 – no spots are 100 per cent locked in.”

Originally published as Jai Arrow believes he still has to earn his spot at the Gold Coast Titans