Why Juwan Compain quit the Brisbane Broncos to join the Titans Elite Development Squad

JUWAN Compain is the face of what the Titans Elite Development Squad is all about.

JUWAN Compain is the face of what the Titans Elite Development Squad is all about.

A Gold Coast kid with huge potential who is bucking the trend of heading to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to chase his NRL dream.

Compain played in the Palm Beach Currumbin team that won the NRL Schoolboy Cup national final in September. Next Saturday, he will fly to Sydney for an Australian Schoolboys camp as they prepare to tour the United Kingdom.

The 17-year-old second-rower was actually under lock-and-key at the Broncos until recently requesting a release to join the Titans, so impressed was he and his family by what the Gold Coast were putting together with their new program that launched this week.

“It was definitely a strong decision because I believed in their new TEDS program,” Compain said.

Juwan Compain. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“I heard it was building really well and the last couple of trainings I’ve had have been good.

“The main decision was because it is around home and I guess all my friends were signed up with Titans and I don’t want to leave and go somewhere else when I can stay here.”

That last comment in particular aligns with the club’s mission, to give young guns every opportunity to one day become an NRL superstar without the need to move away from home.

Compain looks up to Titans workhorse Jai Arrow, a forward who similarly plays above his weight, and is confident he can follow in the Keebra Park product’s footsteps under the guidance of coaches including Rod Patison.

“I came through PBC hoping to be coached by Rod Patison but he left when I started getting into senior footy,” he said.

Compain in action at a TEDS session. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“I got to come here and I didn’t actually know he was the head trainer so when I saw him on Monday, it was awesome … I have learnt so much off him already.

“Even though I have made Australian Schoolboys and stuff, I still believe I have a lot of improvements to make and this club is perfect to make those improvements.

“Coming through the ranks here will hopefully lead me to the NRL in the future.”

Cudgen Hornets halfback Tom Weaver is a younger TEDS member at 15 but is equally excited about the development opportunities now at his disposal.

“It’s great to be given all these tools to become a better player and it’s a privilege to be able to wear the Titans uniform at a young age,” he said.