NRL 2022: Gold Coast Titans appoint Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as captain

New Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui fears no opponent on the footy field, but his new responsibilities off of it are a concern.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will captain the Titans in 2022. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

Newly minted Gold Coast Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui insists he is ready for the role after being appointed the youngest captain in the NRL.

Fa’asuamaleaui will lead the Titans into the 2022 NRL premiership, replacing 2021 co-captains Kevin Proctor and Jamal Fogarty, who has joined Canberra.

Fa’asuamaleaui, who turns 22 in a fortnight, will be the NRL’s least experienced captain this year, but was the standout contender at the youthful Titans.

Coach Justin Holbrook consulted Proctor and Roosters recruit Isaac Liu before handing the captaincy to Fa’asuamaleaui ahead of his second season at the club.

While he is only 49 games into his NRL career, Fa’asuamaleaui said he wasn’t daunted by having to fill a leadership void at the Titans.

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The Titans have appointed Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to captain the club in 2022. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

“Not at all, what daunts me the most is the press conferences I see the captains having to do,” he said.

“I’ve been putting the hard work in and I know I’ve got to perform each week but it doesn’t daunt me at all.

“Justin said I’m ready and I know I’m ready myself. Nothing changes for me. I need to perform each week and keep being me, that’s why the boys look at me as a leader.

“A lot of people get confused and change the way they are because they get that captaincy. I know if I get my job right the boys will follow.”

A product of the Gympie region, Fa’asuamaleaui made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2019 before winning a maiden premiership with the club in 2020 and debuting for Queensland.

Your 2022 club captain 🔥
https://t.co/3A0Nze0YRe

— Gold Coast Titans (@GCTitans) February 2, 2022

He joined the Titans last year along with best mate David Fifita from the Broncos and was crowned the Gold Coast’s player-of-the-year as the club snapped a five-year finals drought.

Fa’asuamaleaui knocked back a lucrative offer to join NRL expansion club the Dolphins next year and committed to the Titans until at least the end of 2026.

And he hit back at suggestions the Titans offered him the captaincy as a carrot to stay at the Gold Coast.

“That didn’t happen at all,” he said.

“A lot of people would have been thinking that but it wasn’t the case at all. That had nothing to do with my decision to stay at the club.

“I personally wouldn’t want anyone to say to me ‘if you stay at this club you can be captain’. I’d rather just let it happen.

“The way I’ve been training and leading around the club is what they’ve seen.”

Titans players at pre season training. New player Isaac Liu in the gym. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Fa’asuamaleaui joins the likes Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Preston Campbell, Greg Bird, Nate Myles and Ryan James as players to have captained the Titans since their inception in 2007.

He could ostensibly captain the Gold Coast for a decade if he remains at the club and said he wanted to lead the Titans to their first NRL title.

“I’m happy with the decision I’ve made (to leave Melbourne) and wouldn’t change it for the world,” he said.

“I know there is a lot of potential at the club and I really want to be a part of the success and future.

“Like any club there’s going to be some lows and highs. I want to be around for those highs where we potentially win a comp. I’d love to be the first captain to bring that trophy to this town.

“I never dreamt of being an NRL captain. It was a cool feeling to tell my family.

“I love the boys and it means a lot to me. I want to go out there and be the best I can and lead from the front.”

FRIGHTENING FIFITA IMAGES TO PUT FEAR OF GOD IN RIVALS

A leaner and meaner David Fifita is in the best shape of his career and ready to lead the Gold Coast Titans after last year’s finals heartbreak.

Fifita will kick off his 2022 campaign when he makes his fourth appearance for the Indigenous All Stars in Friday week’s clash against the Maoris in Sydney.

At 113kg, Fifita is far from a slim figure but he has stripped fat and added muscle to the near unstoppable frame which saw him score a club record 17 tries last season.

Fifita, 21, has nearly completed his first injury-free pre-season and believes he is on track for a big second year at the Titans.

David Fifita is in the best shape of his career.

“This is my first time being injury-free leading up to a pre-season,” he said.

“I came back a bit overweight but now I’m in good nick. I’m happy with where I’m at.

“I’m around 113-14kg. It will definitely help. It’s different because you go up in weight and muscle but I’m happy with my fitness and game.

“I started off the last pre-season slow with injury and in rehab. I’m happy I got to have my first season and know all the boys and staff. I’m really comfortable with the place.

“I’m looking forward to this year.”

In his first year at the Gold Coast after leaving the Brisbane Broncos, Fifita had a remarkable strike-rate of 17 tries in 22 games despite a painful rib injury limiting his involvement in the back end of the season.

He could have easily scored his 18th try of the year if centre Patrick Herbert had passed him the ball in the dying seconds of the Gold Coast’s crushing elimination final loss to the Roosters.

Fifita said the Titans were hungry to avenge that defeat and he had forgiven Herbert for the moment of madness.

“It is what it is, it’s not just Patty, it was the whole game,” Fifita said.

David Fifita will be a handful in 2022.

David Fifita training on the Gold Coast.

“I could have been there a tad earlier pushing up. That’s my fault as well.

“It’s not where we wanted to be. We wanted to play in the next week. It’s in the past and we’ve learnt from it.

“The hunger is there. We’ve got a new side with some new boys on board and it’s a new year with new goals.

“We want to strive for success this year. That’s been our benchmark throughout the whole pre-season.”

Fifita’s first season at the Titans was a whirlwind.

While he was unstoppable near the line at times, Fifita’s defensive efforts and his willingness to do the hard yards was questioned as his $3.5 million price tag came under scrutiny.

He wants to win back his starting spot in the back row and said he was enjoying his time at the Titans with another two seasons remaining on his contract.

David Fifita scored 17 tries for the Titans last season.

“I want to start, we’ve just got to wait for trials,” he said.

“The tries are there, but there’s a lot I can work on in my game. There is attention to detail in defence and stuff like that.

“My attack is always there. It’s just my defensive side of things (I need to work on).

“I’m really enjoying my time here at the club.

“Brissy is only down the road so I’m not far away from my family. I’m still really close with the Broncos boys and staff there, but I’m glad I’m down here with the boys.

“I’m here at the moment and enjoying it. I’ve still got a couple more years.

“I’m really training hard and getting my body right to put me on the best foot forward to get to where we want to be this year.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Gold Coast Titans appoint Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as captain