FIFITA FOCUS FIRMLY CENTRED ON TITANS
I“Now can just focus on footy
David Fifita has spoken of his relief at ending his drawn out contract saga at last, revealing while there was some temptation to return to the Brisbane Broncos he was revelling in the chance to focus on his football at the Titans.
Where the Gold Coast’s marquee man would end up in 2024 and beyond was a frequently speculated scenario prior to inking a three-year extension last month.
In what appeared to be a two-way tussle between the Titans and Canberra Raiders, Fifita’s former Brisbane club appeared tempted by an 11th hour bid to bring the damaging forward home.
However, as he prepares to take on his old teammates on Saturday, the 23-year-old said the rejuvenated culture at Parkwood had instilled in him the belief that his best football could come under coach Justin Holbrook.
While he still considers Brisbane home, he said by signing on the dotted line earlier in the season he could now focus on rediscovering the form that thrust him into the State of Origin arena.
“I looked at all my options and respectfully took it all in with everyone,” Fifita said.
“Behind the scenes people in my corner did a really good job and obviously it’s up the road, an hour away, that’s home.
“But I’m happy that I made the decision so now I can just focus on footy week in week out.
“I think everyone has just bought into who we want to be and what we want to be as players and people off the field.
“We just want to make our communities proud and ourselves proud week in week out. “Everyone has tough pre-seasons, we had new coaching staff and staff around the high performance area come in and train us really hard and it shows out there.”
Fifita’s form may have been questioned at times last year as the Titans’ season slipped away, but the five-time Maroon has seemingly found his mojo in 2023.
The 115kg wrecking ball has shone linking up with veteran recruit Kieran Foran, averaging 134 running metres and five tackle busts a game.
Foran’s comeback from a calf tear will enable the fiveeighth to re-establish his union with Fifita, and the 32year-old said it was no surprise the Tongan sensation was producing the numbers he was given his off-season exploits.
“I think it’s a credit to David how hard he’s worked, he deserves everything that’s come his way so far this year,” Foran said. “He worked his absolute backside off through the preseason and it’s no secret that’s why he’s getting the reward now.
“He’s in the best physical shape he’s been in and he’s able to have a really good impact on the game throughout the full 80.
“Hopefully we can pick up from where we left off.”
Fifita will engage in a heated battle with the man who replaced him in the Broncos No. 12 jersey in Jordan Riki when the two sides clash at Cbus Super Stadium.
Since Fifita’s defection to the Gold Coast, Riki has gone on to play more than 50 games on the edge, while earning
New Zealand squad selection in the process.
“He’s a great player, same age group too so I’ve always known Jordan since we’ve come up through the ranks,” Fifita said. “He’s only going to get better, he’s a freak, he’s a gun and I wish him nothing but the best.
“It’s always good going up against those boys, I have good mates in that side and they’re going really well at the moment. I still support them, I’ve got mates there and they’re going really good.”