Boyd pinches it in golden point
It's no wonder when his season finished with a moment like this that Tanah Boyd hoped 2022 would continue.
Despite being disappointed with the overall team performance last season, the Titans halfback says he felt like his late season form was the best he's shown in his young career.
"I didn't want it to stop, towards the end I felt like I was getting better and better," he said.
"I've taken a lot of confidence into the pre-season and I feel like I've got a good backing from the boys and the staff."
Boyd has always been one of the Titans hardest working players and he is again setting the standard this pre-season.
"It is tough, but we need that and we need improvement and we all understand that," he said.
"It feels like (this year) is a lot more game related stuff. Even the conditioning is game related.
"We don't need to complain, we just get it done and get better."
The spine will have a different look in 2023, with Kieran Foran and Sam Verrills both expected to make their mark in Titans colours.
For Boyd though, he's excited by the prospect of lining up with the pair - especially with the New Zealand representative.
"I love how Foz (Foran) plays and growing up I watched a lot of him and tried to play like him," Boyd said.
"Just his presence in the club is going to be awesome and the leadership he will bring will be awesome for me and the group and I can't wait to have him here.
"It'd be definitely a dream come true (to play alongside him) but yeah I just want to learn as much as possible off him and hopefully we can play together."
After shifting between utility, hooker and halves in recent seasons, Boyd has his eyes firmly fixed on grabbing a playmaking position.
"That's where my main focus is now, at half and I want to keep getting better there," he said.
"Our discussions have all been about half and that's been my talk as well that I want to focus on that and nail that role and get better at that.
"I want to cement a starting spot and that halfback role where I love playing."
The 22-year-old says while he'll continue to work on his attacking flair, there is a squad-wide focus on defence this pre-season.
"Big focus is defence and we want to get better at defence this year and we want to be the best defensive team in the comp so that's a big focus for me," Boyd said.
"I took a lot out of being in the middle, especially the tough side of it.
"You go on the edge and you're not too worried after being in the middle, so yeah it has definitely helped me and I do enjoy the defensive side of the game.
"We do a lot of work with Whitey (Assistant coach Brett White) and he has taken a lot of control of the defence and he is teaching us a lot.
"He's brought a lot of good stuff to the club and I'm really enjoying it."
