He may be almost a year older but Titans half Kane Elgey says there is much he can learn from the stunning start Luke Brooks has made to his first grade career with the Wests Tigers.
Two of the brightest young halves in the game will square off against each other on Friday night when the Tigers host the Titans at Leichhardt Oval with both teams having enjoyed just four wins through the first 12 rounds of the season.
On the same night that Brooks was named the Dally M Rookie of the Year last year Elgey was crowned the Holden Cup Player of the Year and has managed to keep his spot at halfback since making his debut in Round 4.
Through 12 rounds the pair both have seven try assists while Brooks has scored six tries to Elgey's two, although Elgey has played just the eight games compared to Brooks's 11.
Born 11 months before Brooks, Elgey said that the way the Tigers No.7 has transitioned into the NRL is a lesson in how to take control of a team at a young age.
"He made a big impact and got Rookie of the Year and is definitely a player of the future," said Elgey. "I've got to try and follow his footsteps being a young guy.
"He's a young fella like me and his instinct, he just plays what's in front, that's the best thing about him.
"I'm pretty quiet but that's what I've got to work on and be able to be that young one that can boss the big boys around I guess. That's my biggest thing."
In the wake of their third straight loss at the weekend Titans coach Neil Henry and captain Nate Myles both spoke about the learning process their young playmakers are going through as to what it takes to close out a game at the highest level.
The Titans' 22-16 loss to the Rabbitohs was their fourth of the season by six points or less, all of which have been at their home ground of Cbus Super Stadium.
Although they have suffered two 40-point losses on the road this season the Titans have also won three away games and were convincing 22-6 winners over the Tigers when they met at Leichhardt Oval in Round 8 last season.
While it's easy to take heart in a gallant defeat, Elgey believes they must also feel the hurt in order to turn narrow losses into hard-fought victories.
"Our execution with the ball was what hurt us the most on the weekend. There were a lot of positives to take out of the weekend as well but the control of the ball hurt us late and that's why we didn't come up with the result we wanted," said the 21-year-old who guided the Titans to four wins in his first five games in the top grade.
"It's been happening too much so I guess we've got to be negative at the same time.
"For me, every week I'm learning. I'm young and I've got to take responsibility in those times but I think if we'd scored that try at the end, I think we were in position to win because that last five minutes we were on a roll. Hopefully if we can get in that position again we can win."
