Titans focused on doing their job, not Fifita's arrival

Titans players are keenly aware that a roster overhaul is happening at their club, which will keep everyone on their toes.

Unlike a number of other NRL clubs facing 2021 with new head coaches, the Titans are farewelling at least three players in Shannon Boyd, Ryan James and Bryce Cartwright, while welcoming another three in Herman Ese'ese, Tino Faasuamaleaui and David Fifita.

So it's not just impressing current coach Justin Holbrook, who isn't going anywhere, it's about competing with your teammates to keep your spot.

"David (Fifita) has a lot of energy, a lot of talent as he's already played Origin at such a young age," said fellow Maroons forward Jarrod Wallace.

"So he's already got experience to go with all the strike he brings on an edge. We've seen what he can do with that big body of his.

"So it's exciting but it obviously puts a few guys on notice, and just shows how you can never be comfortable in the NRL or in any club," Wallace said.

"If you're not performing then there will always be guys pushing you for that spot.

"It's great for the Titans' future but we have to make sure everyone is playing at their best who's staying."

Centre Brian Kelly said no-one felt in a state of flux about mooted personnel changes because it was too far away.

"Each week we just want to rip in for the boys and represent the jersey really well," Kelly said.

"There will be a great addition to the team next year with Fifita, but that's 2021 so 2020 is our focus this year.

"Every club has a clean-out and things like that. It's just part of rugby league, bringing in players to get better as a team. You've just got to do your own job well."

Halfback Jamal Fogarty knows better than most the ebbs and flows of first grade. He played two games in his debut year of 2017 and had to wait until 2020 for the next eight games.

"I think we've got a great pack at the moment but to have that kind of strike power coming in with David and Tino, that's obviously good for the club and coaching staff. They're doing their job and that is their job," Fogarty said.

"For us as players it's about running out and doing our job each week. It's in the future and we'll deal with that when it comes.

"It's up to the coaching staff what happens with players coming in and going out.

"For me I come in and train, prepare well, work hard, go home, and come in the next day and repeat it."

Fogarty and Kelly enjoy Indigenous heritage, with the Titans having one of the best representations of descendants from First Nation peoples.

"The NRL do an awesome week with the Indigenous Round, and I've played in a few indigenous jerseys," Kelly said.

"Representing your mob is unreal. I'm a proud Bundjalung (Lismore area) man. So getting out there and representing them as well as the Titans makes me real proud."

Fogarty added: "We've got a lot of indigenous boys here at the club including myself. To be a part of it and run out this weekend to represent our cultures will be one of the highlights of my career."

Speaking of other highlights, the hairstyle of forward Jai Arrow is already turning heads.

"I don’t know what's going on there at the moment," Wallace said.

"I think he's having a mid-life crisis or maybe the batteries on the clipper have run out.

"He said it's for a good cause – he's doing it for the World's Greatest Shave – but I think that could be an excuse. We'll see in September," Wallace said.

"I'm not a fan of it that's for sure."