Gold Coast playmaker Tanah Boyd is on the cusp of realising a childhood dream and he has credited veteran playmaker and new signing Kieran Foran for helping him in his quest.
The 22-year-old has been training at halfback for the Titans as he seeks to secure the No.7 jersey in round one of the NRL against Wests Tigers.
Boyd, formerly in the Brisbane Broncos' system, showed what he is made of when given the chance as starting halfback in the last five games of the 2022 season for the Titans after a sequence of games as a utility.
They won three of those matches and Boyd was the best player on the park in the majority of them, thriving as the main man.
His performances were a testament to his class and character after patiently biding his time for a chance.
"I'd been waiting for a while for a crack at seven and knew it was an opportunity I had to take with both hands. I felt like I did that and I took a lot of confidence out of it," Boyd told AAP.
"I've always liked being in control of the team and leading the boys around."
He said training at halfback this pre-season alongside Foran had been a huge boost to his confidence as he fights it out with Toby Sexton for the role.
"It has been massive," he said.
"To finish the year off the way I did last year, and then really invest in it through the pre-season and get the time and reps under my belt has been important.
"Since I came down to the Titans halfback is where I always wanted to play and where I always played growing up.
"Hopefully I get that opportunity. I just want to make it mine now. It is not done yet. I can't wait for trials to show what I can do."
The arrival of 2011 premiership winner and star five-eighth Foran from Manly has been embraced by Boyd who has soaked up his wisdom and analysed why he has been so good. The Titans missed the finals last season and Foran has been signed to get them back up the ladder.
"I love studying and talking about the game and Foz is exactly the same so we've bounced off each other," Boyd said.
"He has been good for the group and wants so much success for the club so I can't wait to hopefully play with him.
"I have always loved the way he takes it to the defensive line in attack and never missing tackles. He is always putting his body on the line."
