Max seen as future King of Gold Coast
HE is only four months and 10 games into his NRL career but Max King is already being compared to Gold Coast teammate and captain Ryan James.
King, a fourth-generation first grader, has quickly become a go-to man for Titans coach Neil Henry.
Such wraps do the Titans have on the 20-year-old, he has already been locked in until the end of 2019 – potentially pitting him in a longterm battle for the No.13 jersey with Jai Arrow, who is close to sealing a switch from the Broncos.
King’s initiation to first grade has caught the eye of former NRL premiership winner Scott Sattler.
“I think he is the new Ryan James,” said Sattler.
“When Ryan James was the same age, we all knew that Ryan James was going to be that player that you could build a club around.
“Max King has become the new Ryan James in the same period of their lives. Max King is a player in 10 years that you have continued to build this club around.”
James, 25, has racked up 109 appearances as a one-club player; King meanwhile has already spoken of his desire to be a 10 to 15year fixture in Titans colours.
Sattler, who was at the old Gold Coast Seagulls in 1992 alongside King’s father David, said he has “great respect for Max as a human being first and foremost”.
“We always talk about having that really good balance off and on the field if you want to be a successful rugby league player and he has got that balance,” he said.
What’s more is the 2016 Titans under-20 player of the year has the on-field abilities to match his qualities off it.
“He is an exceptional talent. He has got some skills that go against what our game has our players believing at the moment,” Sattler said.
“What I mean by that is he has got really good offloading and second phase play which we don’t see enough of in rugby league these days and I would hate to see him lose that in his game.”
The Titans return from a bye week to host Cronulla Sharks on Saturday.