Brisbane prop Keenan Palasia is a realist from the school of hard knocks, so it is no surprise he says his decision to join Gold Coast next year was all about opportunity.
On Saturday night at Robina the 26-year-old will come off the bench against the Titans, where he is headed next season on a two-year-deal.
Palasia signed on with the Titans after recognising he had two of the best props in the world ahead of him at Brisbane. But he remains determined to finish his Broncos career on a high.
"My decision was more about us at the Broncos arguably having the best forward pack in the competition," Palasia told AAP.
"I was sitting behind them and I am at the age where I need to chase opportunity, which I didn't think I'd get behind Patty (Carrigan) and Payne (Haas).
"That is fair. I know where I sit in the pecking order below those boys and I am happy with that.
"It doesn't matter where you are going the next season. Any player in the same situation as me should want to win a premiership.
"It is the mentality I came into the pre-season with and the mentality I will have all year."
Over the past four seasons, Palasia has worked in a bank, been signed, not signed and re-signed as well as battling a plethora of knee injuries - including medial collateral ligament (MCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) damage - that would have stopped a lesser man.
He was signed to the Broncos throughout the under-20s and had a year in the top squad before starting 2019 without an NRL club.
"In 2019 I was playing full-time at Wynnum after a train-and-trial pre-season at the Broncos," he said.
"I worked at the Bank of Queensland for a couple of months after a good friend of mine, Brent White, got me the job. Then the Broncos signed me back up again.
"I've had two knee reconstructions, two cleanouts, MCL and PCL injuries and done an ankle."
The persistence to push through it all exemplifies the big heart Palasia possesses.
Last year he played 22 of 24 games and started in eight. He averaged 40 minutes per match while this season he has averaged just 23 minutes.
"If we can win a premiership and I am just playing those minutes I will be cheering," Palasia said.
"Wherever I can perform the best for Kevvie (Walters) that helps the team perform its best, I am happy."
