Sacrifice is sweet success for Titan

Turkish Delight and Pringles sour cream-flavoured chips.

These are the guilty pleasures Leilani Latu has sacrificed in order to be a starting frontrower at the Gold Coast Titans capable of playing big minutes.

Gold Coast’s depth in the middle of the field has been tested even before the competition is set to commence with Jarrod Wallace and Keegan Hipgrave unavailable for round one due to suspension and Morgan Boyle (shoulder), Jack Stockwell (shoulder) and Jai Arrow (ribs) in doubt due to injury.

It will thrust Latu into the starting position he coveted after making the move from Penrith and the 2016 City Origin representative is determined to make the position his own.

But more than simply elevate himself from an impact player off the bench to a starting prop, Latu wants to raise his average minutes from just under 36 last season to up around 50 at the Titans, and in order to do that some sacrifices had to be made.

“‘Knowlesy’ (Titans head of performance Hayden Knowles) spoke to me about the little one per centers that I had to do,” Latu said.

“The main issue for me was diet. I can get a bit complacent with my diet here and there so I’ve taken that on board really well, making a lot of inroads with our nutritionist.

“I like Turkish Delight. It’s one of my little treats that I like to have (but) the only time I’ve had something was I had a treat after the game last week.

“I want to push at least 50 (minutes) out. I know it will be hard at first but that’s what I’ve come up here for.”

By altering his diet and requesting extra boxing sessions and time in the altitude chamber in pre-season training Latu has shed four kilograms to now sit at 112 heading into today’s final trial against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast.

Also a newcomer to the club, Hayden Knowles outlined the physical work the 25-year-old has had to put in in his quest for more minutes but said ultimately it was up to him whether he committed himself to the task at hand.

“He knows what to do and we make sure we’ve got people there to help him but the challenge is that he has to want to do it,” Knowles said.

“For him to want to cut down his Turkish Delights, that’s his own discipline.

“For him to want to play 50 (minutes) he’ll have to be at that high level of workrate otherwise (coach) Garth (Brennan) won’t be giving him those minutes.

“The ball is in his court to show that he really wants to do that otherwise they’re just words.”

While an elite-level frontrower playing 30 minutes will on average cover three kilometres during a game, Knowles said Latu has been covering eight kilometres in extended training sessions.

“We’re hoping that the game time is actually easier for him than pre-season,” he said.