Halves partnership aim

WEAVER HAPPY TO PLAY SIX IF SEXTON SEVEN

TITANS rookie Tom Weaver believes he and Toby Sexton can forge a palpable halves partnership at Tweed, as the pair seek to press their claims for NRL call ups.

The 20-year-old halfback donned the number seven jumper for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial clash with Burleigh, going down 18-10.

While on Saturday Weaver was partnered with the versatile Will Brimson, the likely first-grade duo of Kieran Foran and Tanah Boyd will keep Sexton in reserve grade and could align the Palm Beach Currumbin alumni together. Once heralded the future of the Glitter Strip club, Sexton endured a tumultuous 2022 campaign. He played 19 games before being axed in favour of Boyd at the end of a 10-game losing streak.

Meanwhile Weaver – who had a hand in two tries and two linebreaks in the 24-all trial against the Broncos – emerged from Tweed’s colts system to make his maiden senior football appearances last year.

He earned two QCup caps, including a debut in which he wore the brunt of a rampant Elisea Katoa against Redcliffe.

However, fresh off two strong showings for the Gold Coast in trials against Brisbane and the Dolphins, as well as training against David Fifita, the youngster is confident he has made a more seamless transition to the rigours of elite rugby league.

And he declared both he and Sexton could coexist in the same Seagulls line up, adamant their union could be his own ticket to an NRL debut.

“It will be hard, that’s up to the coaching staff with where we play. But me and Toby have been training well here at Titans in team two so it’s been good and hopefully can take that forward into the Tweed season,” Weaver said.

“I think Tweed is a bit different, they play a different structure to here at the Titans. We can swing both ways together which will help both of us. We’re both a dominant seven, but I’m happy to play that six role. It will get my running game out a bit more which will help me improve so I don’t really mind.

“I think last year I was a bit light and small so that week-in week-out footy got to me a little bit. But now that I’ve put on a bit more size, a bit more weight, after the trials I’ve felt more comfortable playing week-in week-out football against men.

“My goal this year is to crack this first-grade squad and make my debut, but first I’ve got to start down there, really play well and be consistent and hopefully that goes a long way to getting my debut this year some time.”

Weaver went head to head with fellow Titans rising star Keano Kini, who appears destined to claim the Burleigh number one jumper. At just 18 the enigmatic fullback drew comparisons to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the back of a brilliant trial against the Broncos in which he finished with 143 running metres, a linebreak and three tackle busts.