After a standout season that saw him crowned the Queensland Cup’s best player and earn a call-up to the Indigenous All Stars team, an NRL debut seemed inevitable for Oliver Pascoe.
However, it has been a long time coming for the rising Titans rake, who is expected to be injected from the bench at dummyhalf by Josh Hannay through the Round 4 contest against the Dragons.
Having juggled tiling work with playing Cup, Pascoe starred for the Ipswich Jets last year, claiming the Petero Civoniceva Medal, before being upgraded to the development list after initially signing up on a train-and-trail deal.
Speaking to NRL.com at the start of the season, Pascoe shared his unconventional road to the NRL, despite coming from a “footy family” that followed rugby league.
“Dad always (wanted) me to play footy, which I loved playing, I loved footy,” Pascoe said.
“I went to boarding school, an agricultural school down in Tamworth. It was footy-based and went there for a few years, left there Year 11, moved up to Port Macquarie, played a bit of footy there, but didn't play any 16,18, 20s, nothing like that, just played some grade there and then had a year out in Wauchope, a little country town and fortunately got picked up.
“My coach there at the time helped me get up here (to SEQ) in 2021 to Brisbane Tigers and then from there, I just bounced around the Cup for a few years, Easts, Wynnum (Manly).
"Then was fortunate enough I linked up with Tye (Ingebrigtsen – former Norway international and current Ipswich Jets coach) at Ipswich and it was a really good year.
“He got the best out of me and that's the best part, if I don't play NRL (week-to-week), I get to go back there.”
Pascoe’s debut comes swiftly on the heels of that of Brent Woolf at the Dolphins, his Indigenous All Stars team-mate. The duo were two of three players selected by Ronald Griffiths in his team who were yet to feature in the NRL.
Being part of this year’s All Stars campaign was a defining experience for Pascoe, who was representing his Ngemba heritage on his mother's side, and coincidentally, he will debut against a player who left a lasting influence on him during the camp.
Experienced Dragons forward Josh Kerr - who was ruled out on the eve of the 2026 game with an ankle injury - played All Stars in 2019 before making his NRL debut, with Pascoe saying his path served as a positive example of what he could achieve.
“Having Kerry there; he's kind of similar … I was nervous as going into camp, but I thought I get to make my own history as well now … having not played NRL, but getting to play that game,” Pascoe said.
“I got to relate to a couple of the other boys there, so, it was good that we got to experience it together and (knew) it could build a good year for us all in that sense.
“Josh was so good (in camp) … I remember coming off (the field) and I was a bit upset (after being ruled out with a failed HIA) and he made me feel so much better saying how proud he was of me and how proud my family would be.
“For him not to play, but for him to … (be that involved) … I don't know if others saw it, his emotions on the sideline.
“He was hugging everyone saying how proud he was.
“I remember we were sitting on the bench ... and he's saying 'I'm so proud of you boys'.
“I've looked at Jamal [Fogarty] and he's like ‘we haven't even gone on yet’, but he was just full of emotion and he's such a good fella.
“He is someone you can relate to, especially in his footy journey and in his cultural journey as well.
“It's good to have those people and you can look to the future … that (experience) was a good start for me and I'll build off that for sure.”
The Titans will host the Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium to close out Round 4.
Match: Titans v Dragons
Round 4 -
home Team
Titans
17th Position
away Team
Dragons
16th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
