Then his good friend and rampaging Titans prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui dialled his number.
"He (Fa'asuamaleaui) just asked if I was keen to co-captain the team alongside him, and I thought he was joking around, because we always joke around," Fotuaika said.
"Then he's like, 'No, I'm actually being honest with you.'
"I didn't know what to say, because I was so shocked. Firstly, just giving me the opportunity mid-year, and then it was even better that I got the call from Tino."
Soon afterwards, Fotuaika was unveiled as the Titans' co-captain, but coach Josh Hannay was quick to say that Fa'asuamaleaui's below-average season by his standards was not the reason for the shared leadership.
Instead, the elevation of Fotuaika weeks after he became the most-capped Titan was more about appreciating the 26-year-old's leadership presence.
The move proved a masterstroke, helping inspire Gold Coast to a 28-23 upset of NRL premiers Brisbane last Saturday in what the prop described as a turning point for the club.
"I'd say I love to lead through my actions first. That's the best way to lead, and that's the quickest way to show someone how to do something, through your actions," Fotuaika said.
"It's good that I've got Tino alongside me, because he does all the talking, and then if I need to talk here and there, then I'll jump in. That's how we complement each other."
Fa'asuamaleaui said it was an honour to lead alongside Fotuaika.
"We've always led together, and to be able to officially do it together is what the club needs," he said.
"He's one of the greatest Titans ever, and the passion he has for every single one of us in the club is second to none.
"There is a lot of good change. Josh Hannay and the coaching staff have implemented a lot of excellent things that are going to set us up for the future."
Gold Coast now shift their attention to overcoming Wests Tigers in front of a boisterous crowd at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Despite being thumped 68-0 by Penrith last round, Fotuaika isn't discounting their opposition, especially as the Titans will be without Fa'asuamaleaui and Jojo Fifita because of State of Origin duties.
But their absences mean emerging forward Jett Liu is set to make his debut from the bench, and the co-captain says he deserves the opportunity after his first appearance was pushed back because of a knee injury in April.
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