Inspirational Titans forward Jai Arrow has outlined his desire to lead a new period of success for the club while admitting that walking away would be the most difficult decision of his career.
Two weeks back from an ankle injury that limited him to just the one Origin game for Queensland this year, Arrow is considered a key pillar of any Titans turnaround under incoming coach Justin Holbrook.
Already the spiritual leader of the playing group given his wholehearted performances on the field and conduct off it, Arrow is contracted to the Titans for a further season but already has rival clubs circling.
Gold Coast officials are making Arrow's retention their top priority and are hopeful of having him secured to a long-term deal prior to November 1.
A Burleigh Bears junior, Arrow is one of few Titans players who can leave the 2019 season with reputation intact and the 24-year-old told pan66.com that his preference is to stay and help the Titans re-establish credibility.
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"That would be one of the hardest things that I would ever have to do,” Arrow said of walking away from the Titans.
"I've come out openly and said that I'd love to stay. That's my preference you know what the rugby league world's like, it's a cut-throat business. It's good to be wanted at my home-town club.
"I've spoken to my manager twice now. He asked whether I wanted to know what was going on and I said I'd rather worry about my ankle rehab. Whatever you come back with we'll sit down and discuss it then.
“He said he hasn't finalised anything yet so I'm just going to let him do that side of it.
“I'm just going to worry about finishing off these last three games as best I can and building some confidence going into next year with my ankle.”
Given the absence of club captain Ryan James with a knee injury for the majority of the season Arrow has been forced to take on more of a leadership role in just his fourth full season in the NRL.
Surrounded by young forwards such as Moeaki Fotuaika and Jai Whitbread, Arrow said it is a position within the playing group he is eager to develop further.
"I sort of consider myself a leader of the forward pack that we've got now,” said Arrow, who will play his 60th NRL game against the Storm on Sunday.
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"We've got a few young guys there with Moe and Jai Whitbread who have been doing a great job for us. I've been trying to help them a little bit.
"I want to take on a leadership role, whatever that might be. If the young boys want to come to me I'm more than happy to help them out.
"I came down here from Brissy a couple of years ago solely looking for an opportunity and become one of the leaders of the pack.
"I obviously want to keep that role going and hopefully I can stay here and help this club to be successful.”
As for the type of team Arrow wants to lead, the four-time Origin representative says they must become mentally tougher.
"I want us to be a team that other teams fear. A team that grinds out a game for a full 80 minutes,” said Arrow.
"We've been there in games in patches but when we lapse we lapse pretty badly. A team could put 18 points on us in 15 or so minutes.
"We've got to make sure that we're working harder than all the other teams.
"If we can be mentally tough and feared, that's something that I'd like for the Titans team going forward.”
