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.”
Gus O
Roar Rookie
I don’t know how many good minutes can Qld expect from him? It would be great to have his potential impact off the bench, but how many edge forwards can you have on an Origin bench? Is it more than zero? I reckon he’s an ideal #18 for SOO.
Albo
Roar Rookie
And I will keep it also ! :laughing:
The Spectator
Roar Guru
If he is firing I would hate to play against, he is a freak of man.
Nat
Roar Guru
I’ll just copy/save that… Now I want him in the team and if he does explode… Oh dear my fingers will be sore… :laughing:
Albo
Roar Rookie
But he hasn't shown his X factor at all this season ? Too busy learning how to be a trundler for his upcoming new contract ? :silly:
andrew
Roar Rookie
That’s just it, I’ve never seen Fifita explode in Origin. He looked good against Manly but as you know Nat, against the Blues it’s a different story.
Nat
Roar Guru
That’s the thing, he can be well contained for 95% of his time and then explode for 50m try. When our ave winning margin is less than 2 tries that X Factor is hard to ignore.
Nat
Roar Guru
I think he would be a good center in league. It is also a very tough defensive position and the one game he was given a crack there he was shown up by his opposite. Doesn’t mean he is no good just hasn’t learned the role yet.
Nat
Roar Guru
I don’t think you can select a team assuming a head knock will happen. If the bench middles have to play longer minutes if it happens than so be it.
Nat
Roar Guru
I can’t leave Papali’i or Welsh out. Paps used similar but slightly more minutes than last year just to absorb the first 15min and deal out some Qld love. Welsh is a must, he leads the line speed and has an offload. Arrow has been brilliant since his return but i could interchange with Cotter. Gilbert is next in line. Papa, Capes and Kaufusi are now over 30 (although Capes has covered a centers at some point every year) so the likes of Fifita, Luki, Nanai, Gilbert, Fermor will have to be brought through. But if I had to choose one of those today it would be Fifita (mainly because Fermor is busted).
The Barry
Roar Guru
One round gets you picked in Origin…?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I wouldn’t swap Hopgood for Gilbert because I think Hopgood has far more upside, but that’s not really an indicator of who is playing better at the moment or who would be better suited to Origin… What stats say otherwise? Hopgood and Gilbert are incredibly close in their output. Hopgood better in some, Gilbert better in some but other than offloads there’s not a struck match between them Games - 9 each Minutes - Hopgood 581-539 Tries - Gilbert 2-0 Try Assists - Hopgood 3-1 Runs - Gilbert 122-115 Metres - Gilbert 976-931 Line Breaks - 1 each LB Assists - Hopgood 2-1 Tackle Busts - Gilbert 12-9 Offloads - Hopgood 22-2 Tackles - Hopgood 365-303 Missed - Hopgood 24-29 Try Causes - 5 each LB Causes - Hopgood 7-8 Errors - Gilbert 4-7 Penalties - Hopgood 4-5
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Hopgood also had 4 offloads and 1 try assist . Gilbert nil .
Excoach
Roar Rookie
Last round. Gilbert. runs. 9. Run mtrs. 85. Tackles 30. Hopgood runs 18 run mtrs. 154. Tackles. 41 …no wonder Hopgood falls way towards the end!
Noel
Roar Rookie
I'd wager Redcliffe wouldn't want the swap the other way... Hopgood is going great, but he's still very early in his career. Plays his guts out, but noticeably falls away towards the ends of games. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, bring him in as a squad member like we've done for Walsh and Fermor, for example, but I'd be taking Gilbert in a heartbeat.
Excoach
Roar Rookie
The stats say otherwise. Do you think Parra would swap him for Gilbert?
andrew
Roar Rookie
Fifita needs more than one good game to make the QLD team. He needs to put in week in week out. Billy wants hard working players not someone who occasionally does the hard yards. NSW had him well contained the last time he played for QLD.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah he’s a good un andI clean forgot him. I think he’s largely in competition with Carrigan though Agreed he’d be on the radar but 15 gashes or so into his first grade career might be a bit soon Not sure he’s playing better than Gilbert though…
Excoach
Roar Rookie
J'main Hopgood from Parra would be on Slater's radar too. Great work rate, and a good off load. Certainly playing better than Cotter and Gilbert at the moment!!
Joce
Roar Rookie
Would Hopgood be at least the next in line to Carrigans lock position? Also how does accounting for potential concussions to any of the props play into the bench rotation makeup? Just thinking of Lindsay Collins' concussion history; if he goes down I'd rather have a like-for-like e.g. Tom Gilbert on the bench ready to go. I'd have Fifita on the bench only if we planned to sub 1/2 of our starting 2nd rows, and also if we're confident he could provide the impact we think we'd need in the middle if something were to happen and our prop rotations were to be thrown off even further off i.e. multiple concussions/injuries in the middles.