Fotuaika primed for dynamic future

TITANS coach Garth Brennan has named Moeaki Fotuaika as his player to watch this year following a great pre-season from the Tongan torpedo.

Fotuaika made 16 NRL appearances in his rookie season last year playing in the front row furnace.

Now 19, he has emerged from his second first grade preseason in top shape. A product of league nursery Keebra Park on the Gold Coast, Fotuaika came through the grades idolising North Queensland’s Tongan sensation Jason Taumalolo and Rabbitohs hit-man 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 look 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 try to play like Taumalolo. He is the best forward in the game. He’s got everything, 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.