David Fifita (rugby league, born 2000)

David Fifita (born 25 February 2000) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. He will join the Gold Coast Titans in 2021 on a three year, multi-million dollar contract.

David Fifita
Personal information
Full nameDavid Fifita Jnr
Born (2000-02-25) 25 February 2000
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight107 kg (16 st 12 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018– Brisbane Broncos 39 11 0 0 44
2021 Gold Coast Titans 0 0 0 0 0
Total 39 11 0 0 44
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–20 Indigenous All Stars 2 1 0 0 4
2019 Queensland 3 0 0 0 0
2019 Prime Minister's XIII 1 1 0 0 4
2019 Australia 9s 4 2 0 0 8
As of 17 August 2020
Source: [1]

He has played for the Indigenous All Stars, Queensland and the Prime Minister's XIII.

Early life

Fifita was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and is of Torres Strait Islander descent on his mother's side and Tongan descent on his father's side.[2]

Fifita was educated at Keebra Park State High School and his playing style had been compared to former Bronco Ben Te'o. NRL commentator Andrew Voss rated Fifita as the best young schoolboy forward he has seen in over 20 years of calling the GIO Schoolboy Cup.[3]

Fifita is the cousin of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player Andrew Fifita and his twin David.[4]

Playing career

Early career

Fifita played his junior rugby league for Souths Acacia Ridge. In 2015, he was 18th man for the Queensland Under-16 rugby league team, despite being a year younger. He then competed at the ASSRL U15s Tournament, playing for Queensland U15s Schoolboys Maroons team. He was selected for the Australian U15s Schoolboys Merit team. In 2016, he was once again selected for the Queensland Under-16 rugby league team at lock and captained the side. He was part of the Keebra Park side, which also featured Payne Haas, that narrowly lost to Westfields Sports High School in the GIO Schoolboy Cup Final.[5] In 2017, Fifita competed at the ASSRL U18s Tournament, playing for Queensland U18s Schoolboys team. He was chosen for the Australian U18s Schoolboys team, which toured New Zealand. Later in the year, he captained Keebra Park in the GIO Schoolboy Cup Final against Westfields Sports High School, which Keebra Park won.[6]

2018

On 13 February 2018, extended his contract with the Broncos to the end of the 2020 season.[3] Fifita started by the year by playing in the Queensland Cup for the Souths Logan Magpies.[7] In Round 16 of the 2018 NRL season, Fifita made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos against the Canberra Raiders, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to make his NRL debut. Fifita played 47 minutes off the interchange bench during the 26-22 comeback win at Suncorp Stadium and coach Wayne Bennett commented on his impressive debut, "I liked it because he played mistake free and that is all you can ask", "He was good and never let anybody down, He did a really good job for us."[8][9] In Round 23 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Fifita scored his first NRL career try in the Broncos 38–18 win at Suncorp Stadium.[10] Fifita finished his promising NRL debut year with him playing in 11 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Broncos in the 2018 NRL season. On 17 December 2018, Fifita was selected in the 15-man emerging Queensland squad.[11]

2019

On 15 February 2019, Fifita represented the Indigenous All Stars against the New Zealand Māori All Stars team, playing off the interchange bench and scoring a try in the 34–14 win at AAMI Park.[12] After having some solid performances leading up to the 2019 State of Origin series, Fifita earned selection in the Queensland Maroons squad.[13] Fifita will make history as he is the first player born in the 2000s to play Origin, Queensland Coach Kevin Walters commenting about his selection, "I rang him and told him he had made the Queensland under 18 team," Walters said on Monday. "He said, 'No, I am too old for that, "I said, 'Well you better come and play Origin then.'"[14]

On 30 September, Fifita was named on the bench for the Australia PM XIII side. On 7 October 2019, Fifita was named at second row for the U23 Junior Australian side.

2020

On 27 April, it was revealed that Fifita would be ruled out from playing indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery.[15] On July 25, it was announced that Fifita had signed a record three-year deal, worth over $3 million with the Gold Coast.

Controversy

On 9 November 2019, Fifita was arrested in Bali after an alleged altercation with a bouncer at a nightclub called La Favela. On 11 November Fifita was released from jail after the bouncer who was allegedly assaulted accepted Fifita's apology. After Fifita left the prison he spoke to the media saying "I want to thank everyone involved and obviously, the police. I will make a further statement later in the week".[16]

On 13 November 2019, it was revealed by Fairfax Media that Fifita secured his freedom from the Bali jail after paying $30,000 and signing a "peace agreement". They also revealed that Fifita spent five hours in isolation immediately after his arrest. He was then presented with a local legal representative and signed over power of attorney before a Brisbane welfare officer arrived to help negotiate the peace agreement. He was also forced to urinate in a water bottle in his cell.

Brisbane Broncos CEO Paul White spoke to the media saying "I don’t know too many 19-year-old men ... of his background, who have had an experience like that, I know, having a policing background, that being in a cell is not a great experience, and being in one in a foreign country was pretty confronting. He’ll learn a big lesson".[17]

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References
  1. "RLP". Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  2. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/05/brisbane-broncos-rookie-david-fifita-takes-4.57am-train-to-the-top/
  3. "Brisbane Broncos re-sign David Fifita until end of 2020 NRL season". National Rugby League. 12 February 2018.
  4. "Broncos teenager Fifita gets no family discount". National Rugby League. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  5. "Keebra finds silver lining in Cup loss". www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au. 14 September 2016.
  6. "Keebra crowned national champions". www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au. 6 September 2017.
  7. "Hard work paying off for Fifita". Queensland Rugby League. 25 January 2018.
  8. "Broncos teenager makes historic NRL debut". au.sports.yahoo.com.
  9. "Bennett knows Brisbane must improve after thrilling win". National Rugby League. 30 June 2018.
  10. "Bennett's spray as Broncos roll Rabbitohs". www.couriermail.com.au. 16 August 2018.
  11. "Emerging Origin squad for 2019 announced". Queensland Rugby League. 17 December 2018.
  12. "Indigenous vs Maori NRL All Stars 2019: Tyrone Roberts, David Fifita". 15 February 2019.
  13. "Subscribe to The Australian - Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". www.theaustralian.com.au.
  14. Clark, Laine (27 May 2019). "Qld Origin call to remember for Fifita". The Courier.
  15. "Broncos young gun David Fifita ruled out indefinitely following knee surgery". www.foxsports.com.au. 27 April 2020.
  16. "David Fifita released from Bali jail". NRL.
  17. "Thrown in isolation and forced to urinate in a water bottle: Inside David Fifita's Bali cell". Fox Sports.
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