It's been a baptism of fire but Gold Coast halfback Toby Sexton still believes he's got what it takes to be the Titans' NRL No.7.
Given the keys to the club's attack alongside AJ Brimson and fullback Jayden Campbell heading into the 2022 season after just a handful of first grade appearances, Sexton admits the glare of the spotlight has been a bit harsher than he anticipated.
"It's pretty full-on, losing obviously doesn't help as well, but I've loved it and I'm really enjoying my time there," Sexton said when asked how the reality of being a first-choice halfback stacked up to his expectations.
"I feel like I'm building each week and I'm starting to get a bit of confidence back."
A rib injury to Campbell sidelined the 22-year-old in round three, meaning Sexton suddenly found himself with a new halves partner in Will Smith while Brimson moved back to fullback.
The trio were reunited in last weekend's golden-point Magic Round triumph over St George Illawarra, as the Titans' snapped a five-game losing run.
It means in the three games Titans' coach Justin Holbrook has had his first-choice spine available, they've won two and the third was a game where they were 22-0 up against the Raiders before Campbell's injury and a second-half collapse led to a 24-22 defeat.
"We've copped a lot of criticism, but at the end of the day we haven't played much footy together," the 21-year-old said.
"The more games we kind of can put forward now I think the better we're going to be.
"We showed in the Canberra game after our first game together, we put 22 points on in the first half.
"It's just a matter of time and we'll be right."
Sexton has also handed over the goalkicking duties to recruit Jamayne Isaako, having been kicking at 57 per cent in 2022, a decision he feels can only benefit him.
"I was missing kicks that I normally don't miss," he said.
"It was just added pressure to my game."
Another added pressure is the impending arrival of Kieran Foran with the veteran Kiwi playmaker set to join the Titans on a two-year deal from next season.
Sexton however welcomes the added competition the 31-year-old will bring on the halves positions and says it is up to him to show over the remainder of 2022 he deserves to retain the No.7 jersey next year.
"Obviously we've got AJ and JC who've all got to fit in and it's going to be extra competitive with him coming in," he said.
"We're going to learn heaps off him and I'm really looking forward to it.
"He's just going to add heaps of knowledge ... at the end of the day we've still got a long year left and our focus is playing good footy this year and building on the combinations we've got now."
