An unexpected suggestion from Mal Meninga sent young Titans forward Arama Hau across the world, but now he’s back on the Gold Coast and eying an NRL debut.
Earlier this year, Hau took part in pre-season training at Parkwood, before a discussion with Meninga had him packing his bags for the UK where he spent time with Featherstone Rovers in the English Championship competition.
At 19, it was a big move for Hau who started in eight of his 10 appearances for the Rovers, but one he credits with helping develop his game.
“I did the train and trial last year with the Titans; got that done and then had the opportunity to go overseas and play in England, now, am back with the Titans, it was a good year,” Hau said.
“I was a bit hesitant at the start, but once I had a bit of a yarn with my old man and my mum, I decided it was the best thing for me, just to get out of the house and grow up.
“It was actually Mal’s idea; he rang up my manager and my manager rang me up and presented that to me, then just had a big meeting with my family … and things took off pretty quickly.
“It was a good feeling to know that he knows my name, so it was cool, it was mad.
“It was really important just to get out of the house and see what I'm like outside of footy, but the footy was good over there, it was another level, another challenge but challenge is done now and now I'm focusing on 2024.”
Back at the Titans as part of the club’s development list for 2024, the former Australian Schoolboys forward was recently sidelined from full training following a head knock, but had big goals for the year ahead.
Hau, who is set to suit up for the Ipswich Jets in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup as part of the club’s new feeder arrangement with the Titans, was also keen to learn from the more experienced players in the squad and new coach Des Hasler.
“He’s mad, I like Des. He’s really honest. When we had our first sort of interaction, he just pulled me aside and just said ‘mate, you have just got to get fitter, that’s all I ask of you’, he was real straight up,” Hau said.
“I like fellas like that, I don’t like fellas who beat around the bush, so he’s good though. He’s good for the club I think, brings a lot of toughness.
“But I am just trying to follow in the footsteps of the all the older boys and just learn as much as I can.
“This year, I just want to learn off all of the older boys and hopefully try and play a full year of Cup, that was always one of my goals to come back and just play a full year of Cup, challenge myself against some proper athletic men and just see how I go from there.
“If an opportunity comes up, even with a trial when I come back from this head knock, I will definitely take it with two hands and just have a crack at it.
“I like watching Isaac Liu, just seeing how professional he is, seeing how he goes about himself and Tino's [Fa'asuamaleaui] only just been back, but just seeing how he attacks everything is something that I really like.
“All the boys in general, they are all good for us, they will look out for us, try to give us tips here and there, I’m loving it at the moment.”
