Actions then words: The simple advice shaping Titans captain

Being a NRL captain is truly a baptism of fire.

Not to undervalue the immense honour and privilege of leading a National Rugby League side out each week, it's a role that quickly helps you learn more about yourself as a player and a person.

It provides plenty of challenges, regardless of whether you're riding the highs on top or having to endure the lows on the bottom of the ladder.

Nothing accelerates personal and professional growth more than having the 'c' next to your name. 

Ten weeks in as the Gold Coast Titans' newest skipper at the ripe old age of 22, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui admits he has taken in plenty from his first season as the club's leader, but the most important thing that continues to ring true is ensuring he doesn't lose focus on his own performance... especially as someone who wants his actions to do the talking.

"It (the captaincy) definitely plays a big role pressure wise and just with my performance, but something I learned after the first five weeks is just to really focus on my game and make sure that I'm playing well," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"If I'm playing well, the boys will follow and I'll lead with my actions.

"Actions speak louder than words and that's something I've learned and I've always been told that growing up.

"I just have to keep doing that, leading with my actions and the boys will follow.

"That's the main thing that I reckon I've learned and I'll keep focused on my role and keep playing well for the boys."

A tough start to the season with three wins from ten games thus far - albeit only two and a half games with the fully-fit first choice spine due to injury - there has been a little bit of outside noise critiquing the lock forward's leadership role, but there's certainly no doubt from inside the four walls at Parkwood.

The proof is in every session at Titans HQ, with the skipper leading the way every day, and an unquestionable buy-in among the club of the influence he's has already had on the entire organisation.

To help block out all those with plenty of opinions, the inspirational figurehead just re-adjusts his mindset to what he can do to make a difference. 

"I just need to focus on my role in the team and making sure I'm nailing that," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"Like in training and in games, I just need to make sure that I'm playing good footy and training well and that sort of helps me with all the outside noise."

Wanting to keep the roll on after a gritty and stoic golden-point thriller to get the two points against the Dragons, the skipper feels it's setting a simple mindset that will help them continue to climb the rungs of the premiership ladder.

"We now just need to really focus on our training and really simplify things... that leads into the game," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"We just need to have a simple mindset and make sure that we're running hard and tackling hard like we were on a weekend.

"The boys just have to want it and want to win by simplifying things."

Ready to net the Sharks at home in this weekend's Super Hero Sunday to help turn things around, Fa'asuamaleaui hasn't lost any hope of still featuring in September.

"We've got to have the mindset to come out and want it," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"We've got to want to win to get our season started because if we don't, it's going be very difficult to make the eight.

"Our motivation is to make sure that we simplify things and really get that win on the weekend."