SAME BIG WEAPON
Coast whiz-kid earns comparison to ex-NRL star
THE Dragons great who signed Queensland ace Kalyn Ponga says the Broncos have unearthed a superstar in David Fifita, labelling the teen hulk the new Sonny Bill Williams.
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown believes Brisbane’s back-row dynamo could terrorise his beloved Dragons in Sunday’s sudden-death blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
Just 18 years old, Fifita faces the biggest baptism of his embryonic career when he makes his NRL finals debut in just his 11th top-grade game against a Dragons pack led by British Test enforcer James Graham.
But Brown, a 172-game Dragons legend, backed Fifita to handle a “Red V” mauling, likening his physique and powerful running to former Canterbury and Roosters sensation Williams.
Sonny Bill has since become a dual international, representing the mighty All Blacks in 47 rugby Tests, and Brown believes the Broncos rookie has all the tools to eventually ascend to rugby league greatness.
“David Fifita is an amazing talent – he reminds me a lot of Sonny Bill Williams,” said Brown, the former Dragons hooker responsible for poaching Ponga from the Cowboys last season.
“I can’t believe that Fifita could still be eligible for the under-18s ... kids like him probably come along once in a generation. He’s a superstar.
“There are very few 18 or 19year-old forwards who have the ability to handle the NRL.
“Sonny Bill Williams was able to dominate early and I see Fifita doing the things that Sonny could do.
“He is breaking the line every week in first grade and scoring tries himself. A 25year-old who has been in the NRL system for years would be happy to play with the same physicality as Fifita.
“I watched him play a bit of Queensland (Intrust Super) Cup and then I watched him jump up to first grade this year.
“It doesn’t matter what grade he plays in, he just beats people ... it will be great to watch him in the finals.”
Born in the year 2000, Fifita was aged just four when Sonny Bill, at 19, won a premiership for the Bulldogs in his barnstorming rookie season in 2004.