MORE OF THE SAMI
YOUNG GUN’S TITANS HOPES:
HE was the shining light for the Gold Coast in a horror end to the 2017 NRL season but Phillip Sami had no intentions of kicking back and savouring his rise in stocks.
Quite the opposite in fact. Presented with a twomonth off-season, Sami instead tackled the break headon, working harder than ever before on his fitness.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed in Titans ranks.
“Phil Sami … it seems like he has done a lot of work,” teammate John Olive said.
“He is one of my main competitors for a spot. It just helps me to try to bring myself up to his level right now and it will be a good battle between all of us backs.”
Sami played four NRL games last season and earnt glowing praise from then interim coach Terry Matterson, who predicted he would feature far more often in 2018.
Now with that taste under his belt, Sami is desperate to nail down a first grade spot for Round 1 and beyond.
“I pretty much just trained my butt off to come back here fitter and I have done that and I feel good,” said the 20-yearold.
“I have done a lot of running on the field. Off-feet cardio as well, rowing, bike and all that kind of stuff.
“I made a goal for myself to work hard so I could come back and impress the new coaching staff and hopefully I have done that.
“I still need to work on a few things and I want to be doing that and that is what the offseason is for.”
Sami spent some time at fullback last season in the Titans under-20 team but was overlooked by Garth Brennan
when the new coach was asked who could fill the No.1 jersey if Jarryd Hayne departs.
Brendan Elliot, Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Dan Sarginson were instead put forward.
Sami said he was willing to play fullback but preferred lining up in the centres.
The Titans yesterday confirmed former Parramatta player and under-20 coach Luke Burt would join Brennan’s staff as an assistant coach. Burt will work alongside Craig Hodges, who joined the club from the Broncos last season.