Titans debutant tipped to be '200 to 300 game player'

The Toowoomba native earned a 12-week train-and-trial deal last summer and has been with the NRL squad ever since, featuring in the pre-season win against the Dolphins.

On Sunday, Sharpley will start from the bench and become Gold Coast's sixth NRL debutant of the season.

He played for Queensland's U19s side last year and has been described by Hannay as a "terrific" prospect.

"If he stays healthy, he'll have a 200 to 300 game career," Hannay said.

"He works so hard, the harder the game is, the better he goes. It just felt right to give him an opportunity and we're really happy for him."

Sharpley is considered a chance to be promoted to the top-30 roster for 2027 and has already proven to be a favourite at the 15th-placed Titans.

"He's everything that this club wants to be about: Gritty, selfless, connected," co-captain Mo Fotuaika said.

"He plays tough, he plays fair and I think he's just got a work ethic to his game."

Hannay confirmed out-of-favour Lachlan Ilias would start at NRL level for the first time since round nine, after initially naming him to replace injured halfback Zane Harrison last week.

A five-day turnaround instead prompted AJ Brimson to shift to halfback for the loss to North Queensland, but Ilias - axed from the starting team in May - will return against the Knights as per the program.

"Five day turns are really hard and then you lose your halfback leading into that," Hannay said.

"We could've put JT (NRL legend Johnathan Thurston) in there and it would've been a challenge because there's no prep, there's no reps.

"It'll be as per the program this week."

Second-rower Arama Hau could return this season despite being replaced by Josh Patston for the clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.

"It's (Hau's) first full NRL season, and I just got a sense that he was hitting a bit of a physical wall and that's natural," Hannay said.

"I'd love to get him back into the set-up sooner rather than later, but Patto's earned his spot as well."