Junk food off the menu for Titans prop

Not young Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika, who has ditched the fast food favourite in a bid to further propel his career following a breakthrough NRL campaign.

Fotuakia was one of the success stories of 2018 for the Titans, making 16 first grade appearances after debuting in round nine and earning himself a spot in Tonga's end of year Test squad.

While the 19-year-old didn't get on the park for Mate Ma'a's historic clash with Australia in Auckland, the experience of being at Mt Smart Stadium has stuck with him.

Fotuaika has set himself the goal of playing for Tonga and says that ambition comes with sacrifice - particularly when it comes to food.

"Just all the bad stuff, I guess; a bit of KFC and that sort of stuff," the teenager said when asked if he'd cut anything in particular out.

"If you're not having a good diet you're definitely going to be found out in a game. You can do what you want in training but if you don't have a good diet, it's not going to work."

Fotuaika says the example set by Tongan stars such as Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita both off and on the field had given him a level to aspire to.

"Whatever they've been doing in the game, I've just been trying to learn off them," he said, adding the arrival of Shannon Boyd at the Titans gave him another role model.

"He's a big human being and to have him around; what he does on the field and what everyone can learn off him will help me in the game."

Australian Associated Press