Alick loving the league life on the Gold Coast

Jacob Alick was just looking for a change of scenery when he moved from Souths Logan Magpies to Burleigh Bears for the 2022 Hostplus Cup season. But, it’s a move that has changed his life.

Originally signed to the Bears, they gave him an opportunity to train during the pre-season with the Gold Coast Titans, which eventuated in a contract with the NRL club.

“I come across to Burleigh in the pre-season, purely to join their Hostplus Cup and they gave me a six-week trial-and-train block with the Titans and from there, I sort of impressed I think and found my way into the top 30 which was really good,” Alick said.

“I have never seen anything like it, the intensity at trainings and stuff like that, I have never been at that level before, I am trying to find my feet, but really enjoying it and it’s so different from what I have been used to, and I am finding my body is getting a lot better at handling it now and loving it.

“Coming up through the grades, I have never been in any NRL systems, so it’s a whole lot of different scenery for me and I am loving every bit of it to be honest.

“Recovery-wise, I am finding it heaps better being in the Titans system; just my body is heaps better, and I am enjoying my footy and I am loving my move to the coast.

“It was a good change of scenery for me. I have been in Brissy my whole life, so coming out to the coast where I am 10 minutes from the beach, so if I need to go to the beach, it’s awesome.”

Alick grew up in Crestmead in Logan and played Aussie Rules as a youngster before spending his junior footy days with Easts Tigers, eventually moving to the Magpies where he played under 20s and had his debut season in Cup last year.

When he’s not training with the Titans, Alick is lining up in the second row for the Bears, who are currently sitting at the top of the competition ladder with seven wins from their eight games.

“Burleigh are just a really good group, the boys are really close, I have never been in a closer group to be honest with you,” Alick said.

“I think (I’ve got) a good combination on the left edge there with Josh Rogers too, which is helping me out a lot, he’s got a lot of trust in me and he gives me the ball when I need it.

“I love the boys, Stoney (Rick Stone) is an awesome coach, just lets the boys play footy and we are reaping the rewards off the back of a really tight group just wanting to work for each other.

“I think there is a good turnover of young boys coming through (from the Titans) too, and (everyone is) just trying to push for spots in the NRL obviously, so everyone’s putting their best foot forward every week.

“I don’t think any of the boys have had a bad performance so far, so everyone has been pushing for selection and trying their best.”

This time last year, Alick was working at the cinemas and still finds it hard to comprehend how much life has changed during the past few months.

“I honestly I wouldn’t be able to give you a definite answer on what I would be doing (now if I wasn’t with the Titans), I am just happy to be signed and trying to get as far with it as I can with it now,” Alick said.

“This year is the best year of my life... everything has changed for me getting signed and I am just loving my footy and I think it’s just correlating to the field.

“I think I am playing my best footy so far, it’s only been six or seven weeks, but just really loving the year so far.”

The Bears have a weekend off this weekend, while the Gold Coast Titans will face the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night in their Round 11 Indigenous Round match, which falls during National Reconciliation Week. 

National Reconciliation Week, which runs from May 27 until June 3, "is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia".

The Bears will play Brisbane Tigers in Round 10.