Gold Coast forward Beau Fermor is drawing on advice from Queensland coach Billy Slater as he targets taking the Titans to NRL finals football and securing a Maroons jersey next year.
The 24-year-old second-rower is one of the most promising players in his position in the game. Last season he was selected in the extended Maroons squad and spent time in State of Origin camp. He was also chosen in the Australian Prime Minister's XIII side that defeated Papua New Guinea.
Fermor was the Titans' leading try scorer in 2022 with 11 and averaged 30 tackles per game. He also had 25 errors in 23 matches, a figure he wants to reduce.
"Last season I learned so much off Billy Slater about things I need to work on to be a better player and push for a spot in the Queensland team next year," Fermor told AAP.
"I have a few errors in my game that I need to fix up. That is a discipline thing and just about focusing on holding the ball in contact.
"There were a couple of things in defence and just my mentality around the game that Billy wanted me to work on.
"I have been working on that in the pre-season and hopefully I can bring it out next year."
Fermor was one of the Titans' best in 2022 but the club still finished 13th. That mediocrity, a feature of the Gold Coast's form for more than a decade, is not acceptable to Fermor.
"I must back up the form I've shown and go better. It is a big season for the club and we have to show more than what we did last season," Fermor said.
"It was disappointing last season. We have got to prove we can be top eight contenders and prove we can play consistently in the finals every year."
Fermor was recognised last year by Slater and Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga as an elite player.
He also had former Queensland forward and Broncos premiership winner Corey Parker singing his praises as a player ready to fire for the Maroons.
"It is a dream to play for my state and country. I didn't get to play for Queensland last season but to just be in the squad was unreal," Fermor said.
"I played for the PM's XIII at the end of the year. I know it wasn't the top gun Australian team but just to pull on those colours was such a great opportunity and something I was excited about."
