A passion for the craft and infectious energy his teammates love has Oliver Pascoe on the path to cementing his place as a key cog in the Titans future at No.9.
The 26-year-old had one of the best performances of his NRL career with two tries in his side’s 38-32 win over the Sea Eagles, causing havoc with his running game on the back of a rumbling forward pack.
It’s a world away from 12 months ago when he’d be chasing up a ‘cashie’ as a tiler in order to boost the finances as he pursued his NRL dream.
Perhaps subconsciously his journey is part of the reason the usually laidback customer switches to beast mode when he steps on to the park, roaring towards anyone who will listen when he makes his mark in a big play to fire up his teammates.
“I just love being out there and I love making people proud, my family, always there watching,” said Pascoe, who made his debut in Round 4.
“It's not only that, I get to do it for the club as well, I think that's a big thing for me and I know people can feed off energy like that, so I think it comes naturally but it's also good, in a way, for the boys and hopefully try and fire the boys up.
“I've been a tiler since I was 16 years old and 10 years I was doing that and I wouldn't change it though, to be honest.
“I’ve finally got my opportunity here at the Titans and it's probably built the person I am today, you know, you don't take anything for granted and I feel like that's what I'm trying not to do and just live in the moment.
“You know how quick this can be taken away from you as well and so I just want to keep doing well and keep up my best foot forward to try to stay in and have a good career."
Being able to perform as he did in Women in League round carried extra significance, with all of the important women in his life supporting as they always do.
“It brings me tears in my eyes when I see how much it means to my mum and my partner and my sisters,” Pascoe said.
“They’re living the dream with me as well. It's not only my accomplishment, they're riding the wave with me and I'm just proud to be out there and representing them.
Oliver Pascoe 2nd Try
They’re also riding the learning curve with Pascoe as he bids to thrive as an 80-minute NRL hooker and deal with the battering his body takes from staring down the biggest boppers in the game.
“Obviously, it’s a journey and I think you learn a lot week-to-week. Playing NRL is a lot tougher on your body and you have to take no shortcuts and I've learnt that along the way,” Pascoe said.
“I do a lot more recovery, not only that but video on your game, doing extras on your game, just anything that you can improve week-to-week and definitely doubling down on the recovery because it takes it out of you.
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“I think of being a 9, you're the first person to touch the ball, so you’ve got to know what your teammate brings and what you can bring out of them, so I think just doing that and studying other teams as well, I think that's been a good thing.”
Hannay said Pascoe had been doing “all the right things” in his 14 NRL games to suggest he can be a key spine member for years to come – the trust that inspires the dummy half to keep doing his part in building team success and remain confident “the big picture” will look after itself.
“It's something I'm trying to strive to get, like everything in life, someone to back me and I feel like (Hannay) has done that since day dot,” Pascoe said.
“He didn't rush me in, kind of gave me a few games in a Cup and then kind of said just play your game, just be yourself and try to bring that energy and just back myself when I'm out there.
“It's definitely a learning curve. You can go through thinking it's going to be great, but there's massive highs and lows in this game and I've learnt that personally and I'm strong because of it, I'm learning from it and hopefully I just ride the wave now and keep my best foot forward.”
But even if long-term security is around the corner, Pascoe still plans to keep the tiling side-hustle on his agenda.
“It’s strange, me and Josh Patston still doing that bit of work here and there. He loves it, so I think we're going to do a bit over in the off-season and keep us a bit humble, but not too much.” he said.
Pascoe and the Titans will be on the hunt for back-to-back wins for the first time this season in Round 21 when they take on the Dragons at Kogarah on Sunday.
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