Matt Lodge is teaching Brisbane's young forwards the finer points of the art, while his grunt work has put him in the frame for a NSW State of Origin call-up.
David Klemmer's fractured wrist has opened up a spot for game two in Perth, with Lodge firming as his replacement as fellow contender Jordan McLean (hamstring) faces his own injury battle.
Lodge will get another chance to impress in Brisbane's trip to Parramatta, where ninth will face eighth respectively on Saturday.
Listed as 121kg, Lodge has impressed new coach Anthony Seibold with his selfless efforts in a trying season.
But first-year prop Patrick Carrigan says it's the 24-year-old's attention to the little things that have helped him grow more comfortable at NRL level.
"He's in great form this year ... as a young fella he helps you with a lot of things people don't expect, the things that fans undervalue," Carrigan, 21, said.
"He's a big body but he gets around the park and is right up there in effort areas with Macca (hooker Andrew McCullough).
"He's helped myself and Tommy Flegler add a bit to our game in terms of ball-playing, looking up and seeing what the defence are doing before they're set."
Queensland backrower Matt Gillett will return to the Brisbane side after being rested from the loss to Gold Coast on Sunday.
"There's no reason that his name shouldn't be mentioned," he said.
"He's a big body who gets a lot of momentum; he wouldn't look out of place in that jersey."
Brisbane's shock loss to the Titans followed three hard-fought wins, with a long-term ankle injury to young halfback Tom Dearden adding salt to their wounds.
Gillett and Queensland winger Corey Oates will return this weekend, while 20-year-old half Sean O'Sullivan will replace Dearden, and hooker Jake Turpin has been named ahead of McCullough, who will start off the bench.
Gillett said Turpin had been among the side's best over the last few months, while Carrigan said Sydney Roosters recruit O'Sullivan's style should match well alongside five-eighth Anthony Milford.
