Gold Coast's marquee signing Kieran Foran has revealed how a crowning by 'The King', Wally Lewis, after his first NRL game gave him belief he could make it in the game.
The 2011 premiership-winning five-eighth will play his first match for the Titans on Sunday against the Dolphins in Redcliffe in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
The 32-year-old veteran of 262 NRL games was man of the match on his first grade debut for Manly in 2009 in a 20-14 win over Canberra at Brookvale Oval.
Lewis, working for the Nine Network, interviewed him after the game and gave Foran a glowing endorsement.
"Kieran was just a boy playing in the biggest game of his life at that stage," Lewis told AAP.
"I congratulated him after the match and said, 'I loved your game. That is as good a debut as I have ever seen'.
"I encouraged him to always display the range of skills he showed that day. I said he would go on to achieve enormous things if he continued down that path, and he certainly has done that."
Foran recalled the occasion of "The King's speech" like it was yesterday.
"I am a bit of a footy head and I have watched Wally's games from the past," he told AAP.
"I was a young bloke starting out my career so to get that vote of confidence from someone like 'The King' was a great boost. I remember being extremely chuffed at the time.
"It made me believe in what I was trying to achieve.
"Wally was such a skilful five-eighth but the thing that stood out to me watching his games was how tough and physical he was. He never took a backward step and you model yourself on blokes like that who compete on every play."
Lewis was impressed with Foran's physicality and direct style and with one key aspect.
"In every facet of his play he had so much time, and that is the difference between the good and the very good players when they dictate terms to the opposition," Lewis said.
Lewis finished his own playing career on the Gold Coast, where he gave the club gravitas despite their struggles on the park.
He said Foran's presence at the Titans would give the entire side a boost.
"The players inside and outside Kieran will find more opportunities to cash in just because of the opposition's closer attention to him. His ball playing and creativity is going to be most valuable," Lewis added.
"He is a great player who makes those around him much better. The Titans players will be glad to be his teammate, and glad to be the friend of a terrific bloke."
Foran has big plans himself.
"At the back end of my career I want to achieve success. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't believe the Titans could achieve something really special," he said.
