TAUMOELOLO

Keebra’s Titan out to copy the NRL’s biggest and best

HE burst on to the NRL scene last year as an 18-year-old but Moeaki Fotuaika has loftier plans for 2019. The Keebra Park product admits he models his game on destructive Cowboys giant Jason Taumalolo (inset), something he plans to take into Sunday’s seasonopener against the Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium. “I most definitely (try to play like Taumalolo). He is the best forward in the game now,” Fotuaika said.“It was scary (playing against him in a trial).”

TITANS tyro Moeaki Fotuaika has set his sights on becoming the NRL’s next Jason Taumalolo after being tipped to explode in 2019.

Gold Coast coach Garth Brennan has nominated Fotuaika as his player to watch this year following a sensational pre-season from the Tongan torpedo.

Fotuaika made 16 NRL appearances in his rookie season last year despite being only 18 and playing in the front-row.

Now 19, Fotuaika has emerged from his second firstgrade pre-season in top shape, exciting his Titans teammates.

A product of league nursery Keebra Park, Fotuaika came through the grades idolising North Queensland’s Tongan sensation Taumalolo and Rabbitohs hitman Sam Burgess.

Fotuaika watched Taumalolo closely while in Tongan camp last year as 18th man and said he wanted to follow in the Cowboys star’s footsteps.

“I looked up to Sam Burgess and Jason Taumalolo. They have a presence on the field when they are carrying the ball or tackling,” Fotuaika said.

“I watched them when I was young and now to come up against them is truly a dream come true.

“I most definitely (try to play like Taumalolo). He is the best forward in the game now.

“He’s got everything, he is fast and powerful. He’s a wrecking ball. It was scary (playing against him in a trial).

“Once he ran over a couple of players I didn’t know what to do.”

Fotuaika made two starting appearances last year and will come off the bench in Sunday’s Round 1 clash against Canberra at Cbus Super Stadium.

Meanwhile, emerging Titan AJ Brimson is bracing for an 11th-hour starting call-up as halfback Ash Taylor battles to prove his fitness for Sunday’s Round 1 clash.

Taylor was quarantined from training yesterday after coming down with an illness three days before the Titans kick off their 2019 campaign.

Brennan is expecting Taylor to play however Brimson has been placed on standby.

If Taylor is out, Brimson will move to five-eighth with Tyrone Roberts shifting to halfback.