HASLER’S STAR DUO FEARS

Fifita and Campbell no Titans certainties for round 1

Des Hasler is facing a double blow in his bid to resurrect the Titans, with star duo David Fifita and Jayden Campbell racing the clock for the start of the 2024 NRL premiership.

With only a month until the Hasler era of the Titans kicks off, Fifita and Campbell have been on restricted training programs as they recover from surgery.

Fifita, the reigning Dally M second rower of the year, suffered a torn pectoral muscle during a training incident in early December.

The injury generally takes at least three months to recover from, which meant Fifita was treading a tightrope to feature in Gold Coast’s season-opening fixture against the Dragons on March 9.

However, the Maroons Origin star is still yet to re-join his teammates in contact training and will be pushing to prove his fitness for the start of the season given he is unlikely to feature in any trial matches.

First-choice fullback Campbell is also behind the eight-ball after undergoing knee surgery last August.

Campbell suffered a dislocated patella late last season and has also been training away from the main squad.

With Maroons fullback AJ Brimson shifting to the centres, young gun Keano Kini has been tearing up the training paddock in Campbell’s absence and is in line for a round 1 start in the No.1 jersey.

Hasler said Fifita and Campbell were progressing in their rehabilitation, but couldn’t put a date on their availability. “David is progressing well, hopefully he gets cleared in a week or two and can start the heavy training,” he said.

“It will depend on the next diagnosis.

“(Campbell) is going okay and recuperating pretty well. He is getting better and is pending his next medical check-up with the surgeon.”

The absence of Fifita and Campbell early in the season would be a blow to Hasler in his first season in charge of the

Titans after taking over the club from Justin Holbrook following back-to-back bottom four finishes.

Another issue is the fact the duo will have little pre-season training behind them when they do return to the team.

Fifita, who turns 24 later this month, is coming off a careerbest season and Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui said he was an important part of the team.

“He’s a special player and if you want to win he’s definitely that player to do something special,” he said.

“He’s tracking well. He’s starting to do more running and that’s exciting.

“He’s been locked up in rehab and it’s been pretty tough for him. It’s good to see him out here running and he’s got a smile on his face.”

The Titans will be boosted by the return of Maroons aspirant Beau Fermor, who missed the entire 2023 NRL season due to a knee injury, and in the back row with the recruitment of Keenan Palasia from the Broncos, who has impressed during the pre-season.