SAM Irwin will become the first Darwin rugby league product to play an NRL premiership match on home soil after being named in the Gold Coast Titans team to clash with Penrith at TIO Stadium.
The 20-year-old Nightcliff Dragons junior has been named on an extended six-man Titans bench in jumper No. 17 for the 7pm clash.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright explained Irwin had reaped the rewards of his hard work to be given the opportunity to play in front of family and friends.
"This is where it all started for Sammy," Cartwright said. "He's a guy that's come through our (under) 20s program and he's really maturing as a player.
"He's a quiet young man off the field, but on the field he's a terrier and is getting better ever time he runs onto the field."
Irwin, who has developed into an able back-up hooker to Matt Srama, showed the versatility which saw Gold Coast scouts sign him as a 14-year-old from the Top End in 2007, during last week's 46-16 loss to Newcastle.
"Sammy did a great job filling in at halfback for us last week when he hadn't played in that position for a few years," Cartwright said.
"The biggest compliment I can pay Sammy is the players love it when he's out there."
The Titans have turned to youth in a bid to push for a top-four berth on the ladder with teenagers Jahrome Hughes and Hymel Hunt to make their NRL debuts.
Hughes, 18, has been named at fullback in place of the injured William Zillman, while 19-year-old Hunt joins the returning Luke O'Dwyer in the centres and David Mead shifts back to the wing.
Co-captain Nate Myles also returns after missing the Knights clash with soreness following the second Origin showdown.
The Titans will hold an open training session at Richardson Park today from 8.30am with all players available for autographs from about 10am.
Penrith, who arrive in Darwin on Friday morning, have stuck with the same 17 players who helped down St George-Illawarra 25-10 last Saturday night.
The Panthers possess some strike-power in the form of talented fullback Matt Moylan, five-eighth Isaac John and winger David Simmons, who has scored 11 tries in 14 games this season.
Nigel Plum and Tim Grant as a formidable front-row combination, while James Segeyaro is the only player to have played a premiership match in Darwin, having been a member of the North Queensland team that demolished Sydney Roosters 50-12 at Marrara last April.