Fifita lives out his schoolboy dreams
DAVID Fifita had dreamt of winning the GIO Schoolboy Cup ever since his first year at Keebra Park State High School.
The talented secondrower yesterday captained his school to a come-from-behind 25-12 win over Westfields Sports High – the very side that had stunned Keebra in the 2016 national decider.
It marked the respected Southport rugby league nursery’s third Australian crown and first since 2013, when Fifita’s quest was sparked.
“Looking back when the 2013 team came back (to school), that next day I just worked hard,” said Fifita, a relative of Cronulla big man Andrew Fifita.
“I just remember seeing Lamar (Liolevave), Marion (Seve) and JJ Felise and all that, they came back to school and they were my role models. I looked up to them.
“I just remember in Grade 8 we always wished that we could do that and all of us boys, we have come through the system since Year 8. We said it from Year 8 that we all want to be in the same position as the 2013 team and we did it, so yeah just happy.
“Being in that position now, the future of Keebra are looking at us, it just gives them that drive and motivation to do what we have.”
Players are set for a royal welcome back to school today, where they will show off their hard-earned silverware.
Fifita, 17, is headed for a big future in the game – already contracted to the Brisbane Broncos – and bounced back from ankle and finger niggles throughout the season to be an influential figure across the full 60 minutes at Leichhardt Oval yesterday.
He was hailed alongside Damion Dumas as the standouts on the day. Fifita played in last year’s 26-24 heartbreaking loss to Westfields but was delighted to have now set the record straight in front of former Keebra players including 2016 captain Thomas Mikaele.
“It was really shattering,” he said of the defeat at Pepper Stadium 12 months ago.
“From that experience to now getting the win over Westfields gives us that redemption.”
Keebra battled through the first half and struck a crucial blow before the break to reduce the deficit to 12-10.
They roared home in the final 30 minutes to score three unanswered tries.