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David Fifita might be the forgotten man of Queensland’s Origin side.
The Brisbane-born backrower looked like a set-and-forget pick for the next decade when he burst onto the scene in 2019, but regressed badly after joining the Titans and, this time last year, was playing off the bench, a million miles away from the Maroons squad.
It prompted a spot of soul-searching for Fifita – and he has responded by starting 2023 in career best form for the Titans.
“I had a good look at myself,” said the backrower after his side’s boilover win over Manly on Saturday evening.
“Just my game, my off-field stuff. Stuff like that.”
“Everyone is used to me doing all the long-range tries and that type of stuff, but tonight was the first time getting over the white line. It seems crazy for me, but my improvement for me is just to keep training hard and do what is best for the team.”
Fifita played like a man possessed against the Sea Eagles, scoring his first try of the year and contributing an assist for his winger, Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
He has picked the perfect moment to return to his best. The man who took his spot, Jeremiah Nanai, has suffered a drop in form in his sophomore NRL season and is now banned until the eve of Game 1 in Adelaide.
“That (Origin) is always my dream and goal, to be there. For myself, just keep training and working hard. And if the opportunity comes, the opportunity comes. I know what I need to do. I need to keep working hard for the Titans.”
Other second row options have also missed significant football this year in South Sydney’s Jai Arrow, who was injured, and Felise Kaufusi, who copped a long suspension.
“Everyone has their own opinion,” he said of his 2023 chances. “But I am just trying to keep improving my game for myself which is doing what is best for my teammates and myself just keep training hard and doing the things away from footy that I am doing and just keep enjoying rugby league.
“With my position, there is great competition. With the boys that have done it before me, they are the benchmark. But for myself I just have to keep improving every week and doing what is needed for the team.”
Fifita was injured and out of form last year, and admitted to rushing back after his injury in an attempt to make the Maroons squad.
Now, fully fit and firing, he must come into Billy Slater’s thoughts.
“I tried to rush back, I did my meniscus against the Panthers and then I tried to rush back against the Broncos at Suncorp,” he explained.
“I was underdone, just trying to rush back to get back there. But really I didn’t deserve to be there. I’m just trying to be better week in week out for my teammates and for the boys. Try and improve weekly and get the results needed for this team.”