Gold Coast second-rower Beau Fermor is ready to return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and can't wait for the "shock to the system" he anticipates on the training field from new coach Des Hasler.
The 25-year-old ruptured an ACL for the second time in his career in March and missed the entire 2023 season.
He modelled the Titans new-season jersey on Friday, as Hasler faced the media for the first time in his new role.
"It is exciting. A new coach means new ways of thinking and new ways of training," Fermor said.
"There is a bit of an unknown going into pre-season; it has everyone a bit on edge. I am looking forward to it.
"(Hasler) knows how to win. He has won premierships before and consistently put teams in the finals. That's exactly what we want to do.
"It will be a shock to everyone's system but we've got to keep ... pushing ourselves to get better.
"(Training) is going to be a lot more intense. (Hasler) is not going to cop mediocre."
Hasler has built a tent, known as the 'Des Dojo', on the side of the Titans' main training field and Fermor expects to be fine-tuning his wrestling technique inside it alongside his teammates this summer.
"It looks like a bit of a hot box but it is no secret that defence wins premierships," he grinned.
"That is where we will be getting into each other and making sure we are fixing our defence.
"That will be the hardest part of the pre-season in there. I am looking forward to it."
Fermor, signed until the end of 2026, is regarded as a future Queensland Maroons player.
He said his goal was to "win a premiership on the Gold Coast" over the next three years under Hasler, while adding that 2024 had been "the light at the end of the tunnel" as he went through his rehabilitation.
"I can't wait for the trials and round one to start playing footy again," he said.
"The knee is really good. I will be sweet for round one.
"I can't go from zero to 100 straight into pre-season. A couple of weeks before Christmas I will be fully into everything and just like one of the boys."
