A day after becoming the third youngest first grade rugby league player in history, 16-year-old Jordan Rankin is still pinching himself.

The Year 11 student was back at Palm Beach Currumbin High School on the Gold Coast on Tuesday following his debut for the Titans in their 32-12 loss to the Newcastle Knights.

"My dream was to play NRL while I'm still at school and to do it while I'm still in year 11, it's just a great thing to come true and I just can't believe this has happened," the Australian schoolboys representative said.

Aged 16 years and 238 days, Rankin became the youngest player to play first grade since Jack Arnold for Wests in 1936.

His eye-catching 28 minutes off the bench for the Titans at Skilled Park suggested a bright future.

With his first touch Rankin put on a chip and chase, which would have resulted in a four-pointer were it not for a desperate Knights defence.

The teenager also had a hand in the Titans' final try, and should have scored one of his own after backing up a break by Josh Graham only to spill the ball.

Despite the loss, Titans coach John Cartwright stood by his decision to blood the teenager.

"I think a big thing in playing first grade is confidence, and he's naturally a very confident kid," Cartwright said.

"There's certain guys who can play first grade at a young age, and there's certain ones you've got to leave a little bit longer. But I thought confidence wise, he doesn't lack anything there."

The loss of five-eighth Mat Rogers to suspension, coupled with the long-term loss of halfback Scott Prince to a broken arm, forced Cartwright's bold move.

But it may be a one-off.

Rogers' return this week sees Rankin shifted back to five-eighth for the Titans under 20s team, which he led to six straight victories before the call up.

"In all honesty he's not really ready for first grade," Cartwright admitted.

"He's got a lot of ability, I think that was on display for everyone to see ... I was very pleased with what I saw, especially from the future point of view."

But the Burleigh Bears junior remains hopeful of another taste of NRL this year, despite a predictable welcome from the Knights.

"The Newcastle boys were giving me a bit of a rough up but you get that when you're playing footy and you're the youngest out there," Rankin said.

"I've just got to take it as it comes and hopefully I'll be back during this year some time and to help the boys get a win."

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