Teen star Weaver ready to rip as Titans look to reap what they sow
THE Titans will unveil what they hope will be the next decade of NRL playmaking talent for the Gold Coast when schoolboys sensation Tom Weaver makes his senior debut.
Weaver has been a late addition to the Titans’ squad for Saturday night’s trial against the Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium.
While Toby Sexton is the Gold Coast’s great white halfback hope, the Titans have just as lofty expectations for Weaver, also a graduate of famed league nursery Palm Beach Currumbin High School.
Sexton, 20, will start at halfback for the Titans this season and Weaver is expected to be nipping at his heels in years to come.
Fresh out of high school, the 18year-old Weaver was set to sit out the Broncos trial until utility Will Smith failed to recover from a head knock suffered in last week’s All Stars.
That has opened the door for Weaver, who was selected in last year’s Australian Schoolboys side after captaining PBC to Queensland glory, to pull on a Titans jersey for the first time against the star-studded Broncos.
“He is a very level-headed kid, which I love in a halfback,” Titans coach Justin Holbrook said.
“He’s not the same as Toby but Toby has that level-head about him. A lot of young halves come up and overplay and get it wrong a bit. Tommy doesn’t.
“He’s done really well in our opposed sessions and he’s brave in defence. He’s defended well against our main side. He’s got a great kicking game and is fast.
“He is only young so he’s got to develop this year. He can start in the under-21s, A-grade and then Q-cup. There’s no rush, he’s only just out of high school.
“He has slotted in great for a young guy. His work ethic and everything he does during the day is what we want in a young kid.”
Also an Australian Schoolboys halfback, Sexton made his NRL debut last year and played four games on his way to being the Gold Coast’s firstchoice halfback in 2022.
Weaver is on a development contract for the next three years at the Titans and Holbrook hopes he can mature into a long-term NRL playmaking talent at the club.
He will confront the likes of Origin props Payne Haas and Tom Flegler on Saturday night, but Holbrook said Weaver wouldn’t be overawed.
“I wasn’t going to play Tommy. I was going to let the year develop for him,” he said. “I asked him if he wanted to have a run and he said ‘I want to play’. That’s what I like about him.
“It’s a great opportunity for him when we aren’t too worried about the score. It’s a good chance to give guys a game and see where we’re at.
“We want to promote from within as often as we can. We’ve got some great young halves coming through at the club which is terrific.
“I’m excited about this year and the future of our club.”