‘Justin said a nice little speech for me’: Titan’s amazing spark

The Gold Coast Titans may have unearthed another Justin Holbrook recruitment special. SUBSCRIBE TO READ ALL YOUR NRL NEWS

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 04: Siosifa Talakai of the Sharks fends off Beau Femor of the Titans during the round eight NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Cronulla Sharks at Cbus Super Stadium on July 04, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The Gold Coast Titans may have unearthed another Justin Holbrook recruitment special in 21-year-old debutant back-rower Beau Fermor.

The Darling Downs product was recruited personally by the Titans coach during his recovery from an ACL-reconstruction at the Newcastle Knights.

The Titans negotiated an early release from the Knights and signed the former Queensland Under-20 to a three-year-deal in January.

They reaped early benefit last week when skipper Kevin Proctor went down injured, thrusting young Fermor into the front line for an NRL debut against the red-hot Sharks.

Siosifa Talakai of the Sharks fends off Beau Femor of the Titans. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

He produced 130 running metres on seven carries and almost a try assist in a debut he’d waited years to make.

“My debut was my second game back from the ACL injury so my patience has been tested over the last 12 months,” Fermor said.

“Justin is a really nice fella and he’s a big reason why I came to the Titans.

“He instilled confidence in me that I can go out and mix it with the best in first grade.

“I thought I’d be really nervous but I was more excited than nervous.

“I was in the sheds, jersey on, ready to go and Justin said a nice little speech for me before I ran out.

“That’s when the nerves kicked in about what I was about to go and do, I had goosebumps running out on the field.”

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Few would have guessed as the 21-year-old flexed his attacking muscles in a competitive first half, though his inexperience showed at times.

Fermor split the defence on one carry but bombed the try when he passed to the outside instead of a wide-open Ash Taylor trailing inside him.

“I copped a bit of flak from the boys about it,” he said.

“Ash Taylor reckons I don’t like him that much but I heard Peachey calling and I didn’t hear Ash.

“I’ve watched it 100 times and I’m a bit filthy. I’ll be better next week.”

Gold Coast Titans signing Beau Fermor at pre-season training. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

The good times didn’t last as the Sharks pulled clear in the second half, teaching Fermor a valuable lesson on what it takes to succeed on the NRL stage.

“It was definitely a bit of a reality check,” he said.

“We made a couple of errors and put ourselves under pressure defending our line set after set.

“With quality players like Townsend and Johnson you can’t give them that much footy and expect to defend them.

“We’ve played lots of good patches but we haven’t put it together consistently.

“We’re working on getting that right because we know when we put it together we can challenge any team in the comp.”

With Proctor’s return timetable uncertain, Fermor has a golden opportunity to press his case for further selection and create an almighty coaching headache for the mentor who brought him to the Gold Coast.