The Gold Coast Bulletin

Tino is keen on a Fifita reunion

- PETER BADEL

GOLD Coast-bound Tino Fa’asuamaleau­i has urged offcontrac­t Broncos star David Fifita to follow his lead and take a leap of faith, believing the pair can help turn the Titans into a premiershi­p force.

The Titans will get a firsthand view of the 115kg monster they will inherit next season when Storm forward Fa’asuamaleau­i takes on his future Gold Coast club in Friday night’s clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Fa’asuamaleau­i is totally committed to the Storm this season and Melbourne’s relocation to the Sunshine Coast represents a welcome return to the region where the 20-yearold cut his teeth in the Intrust Super Cup.

But when he severs ties with the Storm at season’s end, Fa’asuamaleau­i will become a key weapon in the Titans’ cultural transforma­tion – and he hopes his good mate Fifita arrives on the Coast with him.

Fa’asuamaleau­i and Fifita forged a close bond as teenagers in Queensland junior representa­tive teams and the Storm young gun hopes they can reunite at the Titans.

“I would love to see David Fifita with me at the Titans,” Fa’asuamaleau­i said.

“Dave is one of my best mates and we would be great together. It would be a good help to have someone like Dave who would come from a good system at the Broncos and have the same motivation­s to turn the Titans into a force.

“He has a huge decision to make and if he stays at the Broncos, I will support whatever he decides because we will always be mates.

“But if Dave comes, it would be massive for the Titans.

“His talent is obvious but I’ve seen the way he trains and the way he holds himself as a person. A lot of people at the Titans would see how hard he trains and look up to him.

“I spoke to Dave the other day to see how his knee is going. I honestly don’t know what he will do. He hasn’t told me, but I guess I will find out soon.”

Fa’asuamaleau­i was outstandin­g in Melbourne’s epic defeat of the Roosters a fortnight ago and is keen to make a statement against the Titans.

“I guess I want to show the Titans what they are getting next year,” he said.

 ?? Picture: GETTY ?? Tino Fa’asuamaleau­i menaces the Roosters.
Picture: GETTY Tino Fa’asuamaleau­i menaces the Roosters.

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