Fermor, 26, was invited into Maroons pre-season camp in February in a sign that coach Billy Slater has him in his sights for a State of Origin debut.

The Titans back-rower took time to hit his straps and played no part in Queensland's 2-1 series loss, but was in top form by the end of the season to make the Prime Minister's XIII to play Papua New Guinea.

"That's obviously a goal of mine and always will be," Fermor said of his Origin aspirations.

“I've got to do my job here first and make sure I'm putting my best foot forward for the Titans and that'll take care of itself.

"I had a goal to play 20 NRL games last season.  I missed two through a knock that I couldn't have done anything about.

"To play 22 games was something that I was really happy with, just to get through a whole year and have my body in pretty good nick."

Fa'asuamaleaui is close to being back to full training. Fermor knows what that is like and the pitfalls.

“He's probably at the most frustrating part now where he's feeling pretty good and wants to jump into everything but the physios and the performance staff are telling you to slow down a bit," Fermor said.

“I know he's getting frustrated with not being able to jump in and go all guns blazing, but that'll come.

“I'm looking forward to seeing him get back. I can help him out and take a bit of the weight off his shoulders and not make him feel like he has to do everything so he can just focus on his game and getting himself back to the form that we know he can produce."

Fermor is also determined to take his own game to a new level.

“I'm one of the older players at 26 and trying to build on my leadership,"
he said.

"I've always been someone that probably leads through my actions, but trying to be a bit more vocal around the group as well is something that that I'm trying to work on."

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