Anti-tank training at Titans
GOLD COAST coach Justin Holbrook has parachuted a Nelson Asofa-Solomona clone into Titans training in a bid to stress-test his side’s defence before the clash with the NRL’s biggest human on Saturday.
Teen Titans development prop Isaac Matalavea-Booth, 200cm tall and 123kg, trained with Gold Coast’s NRL squad for the first time this week as the club braces for impact with the Storm at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The 19-year-old giant is a centimetre taller and nearly 10 kilograms heavier than his Kiwi compatriot and Melbourne Storm captain.
Holbrook said the loss of props Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika to Origin duty opened a window for Matalavea-Booth to run against the first graders.
“It was great to have him out there,” Holbrook said.
“He has a similar stature to big Nelson so it worked out well.
“We had a lot of forwards out with Origin so we needed players and he’s a great young player.”
There was no full-contact allowed but Matalavea-Booth embraced his chances to mimic Asofa-Solomona in general play.
“It was awesome,” the 2020 Keebra Park graduate said.
“Last week I was watching them on TV and now I’m running against the NRL boys at training.
“It wasn’t heavy contact but I definitely got some body and front checks in.”
In his last start for Burleigh in the Hastings Deerings Colts (HDC) competition Matalavea-Booth
dominated the Townsville Blackhawks for 246 running metres on 20 carries.
An invitation to his first training session arrived days later, just in time for the Titans preparation for the Storm.
Keebra Park coach Glen Campbell said the similarities between him and Asofa-Solmona were obvious.
“He’s come to Keebra very raw but he’s a great kid who was willing to learn and he got better and better,” Campbell said.
“He’s a big as Nelson height-wise and the weight could come up (even more).
“What I see in him in this early time in his career is what Nelson came to the table with.
“Nelson got better under Craig Bellamy but when he started he made the same rookie mistakes.
“Isaac has shown similar traits but above all he’s a good footballer and an even better human being.”
He was Keebra Park’s top prop in the run to the 2020 Langer Trophy final and has continued his upward trajectory in the HDC.
Matalavea-Booth said joining the Titans full-time had been his dream since his release from the Warriors development system two years ago first brought him to Keebra Park.
“For the past two years that’s what I’ve been pushing for,” he said. “I think I’m going to go train once a week or once every two weeks and then at the end of the year I’ll do preseason with them.”
News Corp understands the club is currently in discussions to upgrade Matalavea-Booth’s junior development deal to a full-time contract.