In September, inspired by the birth of his daughter Isla, Marzhew legally changed his surname from Leleisiuao to honour the man who showed him how to be a dad.

Marzhew’s father was only ever a fleeting presence in the NRL prospect’s life before the family cut ties when Greg was a teenager.

In the absence of his father, his maternal grandfather Ta’ilevao Marzhew, 85, was the role model who guided Greg through the trials and tribulations of life in south Auckland to follow his dream of playing in the National Rugby League.

Isla, 10 months old, now bears his grandfather’s surname as well.

“I was never fortunate enough to be brought up with my father,” Marzhew said.

“He came back for a bit, maybe two years, then we cut ties with him.

“It’s like he was my (biological) father but he wasn’t my dad. My grandad, Ta’ilevao Aumau Marzhew, was who was there for me.

“I know people say I didn’t have a father around when growing up but I can’t really say that because he (Ta’ilevao) was there. I pretty much had a dad the whole time, with my grandfather.”

When Marzhew and his partner Cassidy became parents for the first time this year his priorities were clear.

“The first thing I wanted to do was get his last name down on paper to give him that recognition,” Marzhew said.

“I’d like to say I’m a good dad, and I’d like to say it’s because of him.

“He’s the biggest motivation for me, him and my baby.”

It was after conferring with his grandfather that Marzhew opted against signing a one-year extension of his NRL minimum wage development contract with Parramatta last year.

That decision set in motion his journey to Gold Coast.

“My partner was pregnant at the time and Sydney is such a hard place to live,” he said.

“Parra didn’t offer me anything I could live on so I had to sacrifice that opportunity to try to make it into the Burleigh side (in the Intrust Super Cup).

“They offered me a train-and-trial deal with the Titans and I took it with both hands.”

Marzhew had proven his potential with the Wentworthville Magpies in the 2019 New South Wales Cup, leading that competition in metres gained (4512) and tackle busts (196).

Once the Titans got the powerful winger in the door they never let him go.

Marzhew said it was his potential that won over decision-makers at the club but his incredible performance in the Titans gym made an impression too.

Since arriving at Gold Coast Marzhew has claimed the Titans’ all-time club records in the bench press (190kg) and deadlift (250kg, held jointly with prop Moeaki Fotuaika), while his personal best back-squat of 210kg is second behind Fotuaika’s 230kg record.

Where Marzhew leaves the other team strongmen in his dust is in the open field.

The winger finished second in club speed testing over 40 metres, with a 4.83 time placing him one-tenth of a second behind Anthony Don as the club’s fastest over that distance during pre-season.

With fellow speedsters AJ Brimson and Philip Sami entrenched in starting positions, Marzhew can provide the punch to complement and balance the raw pace the Titans have assembled out wide.

Gone are the days when pace and agility were the sole requirements to succeed on the wings.

These days the position is the most diversified in the NRL with a variety of body shapes performing an even wider variety of roles.

“That’s something that’s changed over the generations,” the winger said.

“I’ve watched footy games back then and wingers weren’t as heavy, weren’t as big.

“Now you get all sorts – tall ones, small ones, ones who weigh over 100 kilograms like myself.

“It’s a bit of a workhorse position now because you’ve got to fight for those (kick return) metres to get the boys on the front foot after a big set on defence.

“I’ve got to take pride in something and for me that would have to be my power and how I run with the ball.

“I’ve got to make that shine through to earn a spot.”

His skill in that department is obvious but fitness and decision-making are the areas coach Justin Holbrook needs to see improvement in before Marzhew can make his long-awaited NRL debut.

“He wants to be to trust my fitness to keep going with my defensive reads, not letting fatigue take over and making bad decisions,” Marzhew said.

“That’s the main thing, so this off-season I’ve put down the weights so my strength has gone down but at least the fitness is there.

“Over the break I was just trying to do a lot of aerobic, long distance running.

“I shocked myself (in the 1.2km time trial), I was aiming for six minutes and I got 5.27.

“That’s good standards for myself and it’s only up from there.

“I’m fighting to get a spot, to get out there and show the fans what I can do for the team.

“You know where our team is heading, it’s heading in a good direction.

“The first thing I want to do is be a part of it, not sitting on the sidelines but on the field as well.”

His urgency to take that next step is real.

Marzhew is desperate to make his NRL debut with his grandfather Ta’ilevao watching on as the boy he helped raise into a man takes the field, proudly wearing his family name like a suit of armour on the NRL battlefield.