Jamal becomes the NRL’s surprise captain
JAMAL Fogarty hopes his rise to the captaincy of the Titans can inspire others facing rugby league’s scrap heap.
Fogarty is proof that a second, or even third, chance could not be far away for those determined enough to chase it.
With only 17 first-grade appearances next to his name, Fogarty is the least experienced captain in the NRL-era after being chosen to replace the suspended Kevin Proctor.
But what he lacks in onfield experience at the highest level, Fogarty makes up for in immeasurable qualities.
At 26, and with two young daughters, Fogarty admits he thought his NRL dream had passed him after two games for the Titans in 2017, his second stint at the club after coming through the grades in 2012-15.
Fogarty was crowned the Intrust Super Cup’s player of the year in 2019 and captained the Burleigh Bears to a premiership win.
“To be honest, I kind of did (give up),” Fogarty said. “After the season I had last year, I thought I went pretty well and if there was going to be any opportunity for me to get back in the NRL it would have been off the back of that season.
“But nothing really came about. I enjoy my job (as a youth worker) and love playing at Burleigh so I got on with it and didn’t dwell on it.”
But his life would change on the night of February 21 at Pizzey Park when playing a starring role in the Bears’ trial win against the Titans and caught the eye of new Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook.
“After the trial game, my manager Tas Bartlett told me the Titans’ recruitment officer Ezra (Howe) wanted to have a coffee and get to know me,” Fogarty said.
He would sign a development contract before being promoted to the Titans top 30 “bubble” squad.