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After getting back on his feet and regaining his fitness, David Fifita said he is feeling “dangerous”, giving Gold Coast fans hope the best is yet to come to from their marquee man this season.
Featuring in both of the Gold Coast’s Pre-Season Challenge matches after coming back from ankle surgery performed in September last year, Fifita looks good to go for his side’s Round 2 opener against the Bulldogs.
“I'm happy I'm here now … (if I stay) injury free and keep having a good mindset and being happy (I can keep improving). I think when I'm happy, I'm dangerous,” Fifita said.
Speaking before the club’s NRL season launch earlier this week, Fifita shared how he’d come through some of the challenges and setbacks of the 2024 season which saw him in the news for reasons other than just his football.
The representative forward said he was settled with his decision announced last May to remain with the Titans after a move to the Roosters seemed imminent; once again citing the importance of family and praising the ongoing support of his partner, fellow Gold Coast forward Shaylee Bent.
“It's been tough for myself, I had a hiccup at the end of the year, I had ankle surgery and it's coming along good now; still more tough sessions coming up and looking forward to rip in next week.
“Injuries can be frustrating and this has probably been my toughest and most frustrating to overcome it … this one's just staying around a bit, but I've got good people around me, good physios, good partner at home and family, so they keep me level-headed.
“Also having my family around; my mum, my dad, and my nan, being close to them (is important) … they're getting older and I just want to be around them and look after them.
“(Bent has been) massive, she sacrificed a lot, she could have gone down to Sydney, but I wanted her to stay, she does a lot … when I'm down with my injuries … she looks after me really well and it's a tough day at times when you're injured and she's there, my mum's there for me and my dad.
“(She’s coming back from injury too). She's done her shoulder … (but) she's coming right now … we're both supportive of each other and she's got a good support base, good staff with the women’s team.”
Fifita also addressed the disappointment of missing out on Origin selection and didn’t shy away from voicing his goal to regain a place in Billy Slater’s Queensland line-up this season.
“You have got to earn it,” Fifita said.
“Obviously, didn't earn it last year, so it starts next week, in Round 2 against Bulldogs.
“I've got to earn that spot.
“There's good candidates for that role, so whatever it is, man, I'm (working to get) back in.”
While their first round bye means the Titans have been made to wait an extra week before they play their first game, Fifita said the bond in the squad continued to grow and he was especially keen to see what the side’s forward pack could produce when fully fit.
“I'm excited for this year with new boys coming in and hopefully we all stay injury free for Round 2 when the team gets selected,” Fifita said.
“The players we have here, we've been around this group for a while now. I've signed here since 2021 and I’m 25 now, so getting a bit older and we've all stayed around this core group for a while now and hopefully this is the year.
“We all come off contract next year, so it has to be this year and for us, we know what we have to do individually.
“I am excited to have our skipper [Tino Fa’asuamaleaui] back and hopefully Big Reg [Reagan back soon too, and all the boys.
“Looking forward to running out with the pack that we have and our 6,7 and 1 going off the back of them.
“Me and Tino go way back since our young days, not just him, Moeaki [Fotuaika], Brimmo [AJ Brimson], Jayden [Campbell], all of them.
“We've all been around each other now for a while and just the connection we have, we're getting more comfortable with each other.
“But just to have Tino back there is massive for us, trust me. You will see. He's a beast.
“RCG as well, he's another beast. Him, Tino and Moe, Jimmy Jolliffe; hopefully we'll all be on the field together at the same time and create ruck speed for our 6,7 and 1 to do the damage.
“I am looking forward to it.”
Match: Bulldogs v Titans
Round 2 -
home Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
away Team
Titans
13th Position
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
