Junior Development

[Mr Bods]

Keebra Park student and younger brother of Payne Haas, Kleese Haas will start at lock for the Bilambil Jets against Ballina in Round One of the NRRRL U18 Grade competition tomorrow and then he will be on the bench for the First Grade match.

I believe a number of Payne’s brothers are at Bilambil. Payne is very gettable for us when his current Drongoes contract is finished.

[mdrew]

After playing earlier in the season at hooker for the Sydney Roosters SG Ball side, Josh Bevan is back home and is set to start at five eight for Bilambil in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition against Ballina.

[mdrew]

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Both Zeda and Kleese are in the Bilambil U18 side for tomorrow's match.

I believe a number of Payne’s brothers are at Bilambil. Payne is very gettable for us when his current Drongoes contract is finished.

[mdrew]

2020 Burleigh MM Cup squad member Lachlan Garner will start at half tomorrow for Bilambil in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition against Ballina.

[mdrew]

Powerful Titans contracted Noah Johannssen will start in the front row today for Bilambil today in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition against Ballina.

His older brother Tim will start in the second row.

[mdrew]

Bilambil Jets U18 hooker Jonah Whitlam-Rose with a double today in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition as the Jets defeated Ballina 34-18.

[mdrew]

Great to see former Titans U20 player Max Elliott back in northern NSW and this afternoon lined up for Lismore Marist Brothers against Casino RSM in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition, starting the match from the bench.

[mdrew]

In Round One of the Group One U16.5 competition last weekend second rower Reece Noble had a big match scoring a double as his Ballina side defeated Casino RSM 38-10.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Lachlan Offley started at right centre and scored for Ballina in Round One of the Group One U15 competition last weekend but his Ballina side went down 16-14 to Casino RSM.

[mdrew]

Titans linked Reshawn Anderson started in the front row and scored for Ballina in Round One of the Group One U15 competition last weekend but his Ballina side went down 16-14 to Casino RSM.

[mdrew]

Ballina youngster Noah Waldock had a busy day last Saturday in Round One of the Group One competition. First he scored after starting at fullback for the Ballina U14 side and then backed up to start on the wing for the Ballina U15 side in the following match.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield started at fullback and scored for Ballina in Round One of the U18 NRRRL competition yesterday but teh Seagulls went down 34-18 to the Bilambil Jets.

[mdrew]

It was a case of the centres doing the damage for the Grafton Ghosts U13 Group One side last weekend in Round One.

In a 42-24 win over Kyogle left centre Beau Hartmann scored a hat trick and right centre Kyron Nipperess crossed for a double.

[mdrew]

Ballina Seagulls U13 five eight Dylan Watkins had some sort of match in Round One of the Group One U13 competition last weekend scoring all five of Ballina's tries and also kicking a conversion as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 28 - 18.

[mdrew]

The Titans secured the highly coverted signature of the powerhouse young second rower David Fifita on a three year contract starting from the 2021 NRL season. The 186cm, 107kg young man is simply an outstanding potentially once in a generation talent.

David Fifita will join fellow former Keebra Park students, Moeaki Fotuaki, AJ Brimson and Tannah Boyd in the Titans NRL Top 30 and Ioane Seuili and Lofi Khan-Periera who are on Titans NRL Development contracts.

The question is what are we getting with David Fifita?

David Fifita started Round One of the NRL competition at left second row against the North Queensland Cowboys playing the entire eight minutes and scoring one of the most outstanding tries that I have ever seen in the 57th minute of the match.

David Fifita received the ball on the left side of the field seventy metres out from the Cowboys line. David Fifita surged through the initial defensive line including brushing off Cohen Hess and one other. After outpacing the Cowboys cover defence, David Fifita produced a brilliant right foot step to easily defeat Valentine Holmes and outpacing Kyle Feldt to score under the posts to score one of the best individual tries that I have ever seen.

David Fifita played the entire eight minutes of the match, running for 150 metres (twenty eight post contact), broke a team leading eight tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.44 seconds and made thirty one tackles at a 93.94% tackling efficiency.

David Fifita also started at left second row in Round Two against Souths Sydney and produced another outstanding performance in his eighty minutes on the field. David Fifita ran for 154 metres (forty post contact), broke seven tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.08 seconds and made twenty six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.3%.

At the start of the 2020 season, David Fifita was part of the Broncos NRL nines squad playing in both of their matches. In match One against North Queensland, David Fifita ran for eleven metres and made five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency and in Game Two against Melbourne he ran for fifty one metres, broke two tackles and made four, once again at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In 2019 David Fifita played in twenty four NRL matches for the Broncos, scoring seven tries. In the NRL in 2019 David Fifita ran for a total of 2 321 metres, made ten line breaks, off loaded the ball on fifteen occasions and made 525 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.86%.

David Fifita’s 2019 NRL per game averages included running for 96.71 metres and making 22.29 tackles.

A description of a number of David Fifita’s 2019 NRL tries are noted below:

Agaisnt the New Zealand Warriors David Fifita received the ball on the right side of the field around twenty five metres out from the line with not a great deal happening for Brisbane. Four right foot steps and a powerful left arm fend on the Warriors half back later David Fifita put the ball down to the left of the goal posts for an outstanding individual try.

Against the Canberra Raiders, David Fifita received the ball in space, David Fifita accelerated at the line and dummied to his right to beat Jarrod Crocker after that it was an easy run to the line for David Fifita.

David Fifita scored a close range try against the Manly Sea Eagles when he dragged three defenders over from a metre or so out. David Fifita was able to maintain his balance as he spun clock wise to score ten metres from the left corner.

In relation to his try against the North Queensland Cowboys, David Fifita scored a powerful individual try. David Fifita cut back inside and ten metres from the try line, powered over the top of Josh Maguire and then dived over close to the left uprights with three Cowboys defenders handing off him.

David Fifita scored what on face value was a seemingly simple try against the Parrmatta Eels but a closer examination would suggest that it was not as simple as it initially seemed. The Bronco’s played the ball close to the Eels line near the left corner. David Fifita started literally behind the play the ball. Once he received the ball from the dummy half, David Fifita ran a 45 degree angle towards the try line to the right of the play the ball. David Fifita burst through three defenders right on the try line who was trying to prevent David Fifita from scoring, they had no chance.

Against Souths Sydney David Fifita scored yet another outstanding individual try. David Fifita was operating on the left side of the field received the ball thirty metres out from the try line, bursting through two Souths Sydney defenders before veering around the fullback before spinning 360 degrees counter clockwise to beat Dane Gagai who was coming across in cover defence. After the spin David Fifita maintained his balance before diving over to score next to the left upright for an outstanding individual try.

David Fifita made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in 2019 playing in all three matches in the series. David Fifita made history in Game One when he was the first player born in the 2000’s to play in a State Origin match.

In his State of Origin debut in Game One in 2019, David Fifita started from the bench playing twenty seven minutes. In that time, David Fifita ran for eighty two metres (thirty one post contact), broke two tackles and made twelve of his own at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In Game Two David Fifita also started from the bench coming on to play thirty five minutes. In his game time David Fifita ran for forty six metres (twelve post contact) and made twenty two tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.65%.

In Game Three David Fifita started from the bench for the third match in a row, playing nineteen minutes. David Fifita ran for twenty metres (five post contact), broke a tackle and made sixteen at a tackling efficiency of 84.21%.

In his first State of Origin series, David Fifita played a total of eighty one minutes, rand for 149 metres and made fifity tackles at a 93.3% tackling efficiency.

2019 also saw David Fifita represent the Indegenious all star’s coming off the bench and scoring in a 34 – 14 victory.

In 2019 David Fifita was part of the Australian World Nine’s squad announcing himself on the International stage with a series of damaging displays in the nine format.

In Game One against New Zealand David Fifita was devastating scoring a double. David Fifita’s first try was a brute strength effort from close range, but his second resulted from a series of punishing fends and a deft dummy leading to a diving try in the corner.

In the match David Fifita played the entire eighteen minutes of the match, breaking the line twice and also breaking ten tackles on the way to running for fifty seven metres and making five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In Game Two against PNG David Fifita palyed all eighteen minutes, ran for thirty five metres, broke a tackle and made three at a 100% tackling efficiency. David Fifita played all eighteen minutes once again in Game Three against Samoa on the way to running for twenty seven minutes and five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In the finals against New Zealand David Fifita played all eighteen minutes, had a try assist, a line break, two broken tackles, ran for 116 metres and made four tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. David Fifita’s try assist was an outstanding effort, he made a long break starting from sixty metres out from the line and just as he was being tackled by the New Zealand cover defence, he popped a great one armed pass to his inside to send Mitchell Moses away to score under the posts.

In total in the 2019 World Nines for Australia, David Fifita played four matches, scored twice, broke the line on three occasions, off loaded four times, ran for 236 metres and did not miss a tackles whilst making seventeen.

David Fifita made his NRL debut as an 18 year old in 2018 in Round Sixteen against the Canberra Raiders, going on to play in eleven NRL matches and scoring on two occasions with his first NRL try coming in Round Twenty Three against Souths Sydney. David Fifita’s other 2018 NRL try came against St George when he backed up a Kidi Nikorima break to run fifity metres to score in the first half.

In the NRL in 2018 David Fifita made three line breaks, off loaded on nine occasions, ran for 1 109 metres and made 227 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.42%.

David Fifita’s 2018 NRL per game averages included running for 100.85 metres and making 20.64 tackles.

David Fifita started the 2018 season as part of the Souths Logan Magpies MM Cup side leading the Magpies to Queensland MM Cup success with an 18 – 16 win over Norths and was also part of the Souths Logan side that went down 38 – 32 to Penrith in the U18 National Final. In the National Final David Fifita scored an outstanding long range try.

Current Penrith Panthers NRL five eight Matt Burton put up a bomb in the first half. Penrith recovered the ball and threw it around on the sixth tackle. David Fifita intercepted the ball on the twenty metre line taking off down the left touch line on an eighty metre run. With thirty metres to run David Fifita used a strong left arm fend to push away the fullback and just as he was crossing the try line used another left arm fend to knock the Penrith left winger off his feet.

In the 2018 MM Cup competition for Souths Logan David Fifita scored thirteen tries from just ten matches (130% strike rate) including hat tricks in Rounds Five and Six against Wynnum Manly and the Central Queensland Capra’s respectively.

David Fifita scored his first try against Wynnum Manly down the right side of the field when he pounced on a grubber kick that Tannah Boyd weighted perfectly into the in goal area. David Fifita’s second try of the match was also down the right when after receiving the ball ten metres out, got on the outside of the Wynnum Many left centre to score in the right corner.

David Fifita complated his hat trick in the second half when he took a pass off the dummy half down the blind side on the right side of the field, once again getting on the outside of his direct opponent to crash over in the right corner.

Two of David Fifita’s hat trick of tries against Central Queensland were outstanding individual long range efforts. David Fifita’s first try of the match was a long range ninety metre effort. David Fifita broke through the initial Capra’s defensive line and then charged down the right touch line getting rid of the Capra’s left winger and fullback with strong right arm fends and then brought the ball around to score under the posts.

David Fifita’s second try of the match resulted from a charge down the right side of the field to score from around twelve metres out. David Fifita completed his hat trick with a second lange range effort in the match. David Fifita received the ball two off the ruck on the right side of the field eighty one metres out going through a gap in the Capra’s defensive line untouched. David Fifita beat the fullback with a deft slight of hand when he momentarily shaped to pass back on his inside to put off the fullback before charging untouched to score.

A description of David Fifita’s remaining 2018 MM Cup tries are noted below:

David Fifita scored a double against the Redcliffe Dolphins, with his first coming when Souths Logan threw the ball out to the right. David Fifita received the ball fifteen metres out from the line, immediately exploding through a gap and then was able to bring the ball around to score near the right goal post.

David Fifita’s second try of the match was a strong individual effort. After Souths Logan kicked the ball out after receiving a penalty, David Fifita took the hit up from the tap restart forty three metres out from the Redcliffe line. David Fifita broke through the initial defensive line, leaving two defenders in his wake before rounding the fullback through sheer pace. A right palm into the chest of the Redcliffe five eight who had come across in cover defense ended any hope that Redcliffe had to him, with David Fifita diving over under the posts.

David Fifita also scored a double against the Western Mustangs. His first try of the match came in the first half. David Fifita took a hit up on the right side of the field and was hit heavily by the Mustangs left winger, who initially rocked David Fifita backwards around twenty metres out from the line. David Fifita maintained his balance however and proceeded to power through three tackles and was also able to bring the ball around to put it down near the goal posts.

David Fifita’s second try of the match came in the second half when he backed up a break by Tesi Nui to run fifteen metres to score.

David Fifita also scored a double against against the Burleigh Bears, the first coming when he picked the ball up off the back of a scrum that was set ten metres out from the Burleigh try line. David Fifita broke to the right of the scrum down a fifteen metre blind side and was just too powerful for the Burleigh left side defence to score in the corner.

David Fifita’s second try against the Bears was as a result of a twenty charge down the right side of the field to cross in the right corner.

David Fifita’s final try of the 2018 MM Cup season came against the Mackay Cutters when David Fifita made a seventy metre break down the right side of the field with two strong left armed plams taking care of the Cutters defenders. David Fifita then was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Post the 2018 MM Cup competition David Fifita played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup competition playing four matches prior to his NRL call up. In his four matches David Fifita ran for 660 metres (243 post contact), made eighty two tackles, broke thirty two tackles and made two line breaks.

David Fifita’s debut Queensland Cup try came against the Ipswich Jets. David Fifita received the ball on the right side of the field one off the back of a scrum. David Fifita burst through three Jets defenders and then beat another defender coming across with a left arm fend before outpacing the Ipswich fullback and left winger on an eighty metre run to the line.

David Fifita’s 2018 Queensland Cup per game averages included running for a staggering 165 metres, breaking eight tackles and making 20.5 tackles.

In 2018 David Fifita won numerous individual awards including the Greg Veivers MM Cup Best Forward, MM Cup Player of the Year and Queensland Representative Player of the Year. David Fifita was also the Queensland U18 captain in 2018 and was due to represent Queensland at the U20 level as well but had to withdraw as he was called up to the NRL just prior to the match.

In the 2018 U18 interstate match, David Fifita scored a strong try when thirteen metres out from the line on the right of the field, he received a pass from Tannah Boyd, immediately producing a left foot step to beat the initial defender and then crash over with two defenders hanging off him.

David Fifita has also made a number of appearances for Australia in a number of teams, including starring for the Australian school boys side in 2017 when he scoreda double in a big win against the New Zealand U18 side. In that match David Fifita terrorised on the right side of the field and combined exceptionally well with Tannah Boyd.

David Fifita’s first try came on the first half when he received the ball from Tannah Boyd around seventeen metres out from the New Zealand line. David Fifita immediately cut back inside before veering back to the right to outpace the cover defence to score. David Fifita’s second try came in the second half when he backed up a Tannah Boyd break to receive an inside pass from Boyd to score from six metres out.

David Fifita also represented the Prime Ministers XIII in 2019 when he started from the interchange bench against Fiji. In his forty eighte minutes on the field, in addition to scoring David Fifita ran for 106 metres (eleven post contact), made a line break, had a line break assist and try assist, broke six tackles and made sixteen of his own at a 94.65 tackling efficiency.

David Fifita played for the Junior Kangaroo’s in 2019 as well against France. Davif Fifita started the match at left second row, playing in the opening 65 minutes of the match before being replaced. David Fifita scored in the match as well as running for 118 metres (thirty eight post contact), made a line break, broke nine tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.6 seconds and made ten tackles at an 80% tackling efficiency. David Fifita’s try was a reasonably easy one by his standards, he received the ball in space on the left side of the field rumbling to the try line dragging two French defenders with him.

David Fifita played his junior rugby league for Souths Acacia Ridge in Brisbane ‘s South/West. In 2015, David Fifita was 18th man for the Queensland Under-16 rugby league team, despite being a year younger. David Fifita then competed at the ASSRL U15s Tournament, playing for Queensland U15s Schoolboys Maroons team. David Fifita was selected for the Australian U15s Schoolboys Merit team.

One of the first times that I saw David Fifita play was for the Souths Acacia Ridge U15 side that played against Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U15 at Nundah. David Fifita played lock that day for Souths Acacia Ridge and was simply outstanding against a Logan Brothers side that contained amongst others Geordie Brand.

In 2016, David FIfita was once again selected for the Queensland Under 16 rugby league team at lock and captained the side. David Fifita was was part of the Keebra Park side, which also featured Payne Haas and Tannah Boyd, that narrowly lost to Westfields Sports High School in the GIO Schoolboy Cup Final.

In 2017, David Fifita competed at the ASSRL U18s Tournament, playing for Queensland U18s Schoolboys team. David Fifita was chosen for the Australian U18s Schoolboys team, which toured New Zealand. Later in the 2017 year, David FIfita captained Keebra Park in the GIO Schoolboy Cup Final against Westfields Sports High School, which Keebra Park won with Tannah Boyd and Ioane Seuili also in the starting side. That same year David Fifita was awarded the Peter Sterling medel for the most outstanding GIO Cup school boy player of the competition.

What also cannot be overstated is David Fifita’s ability to bring other young players to the Titans over the coming seasons. There is no doubt that the Titans will leverage off having David Fifita, Tannah Boyd, AJ Brimson, Moeaki Foteuika, Ioane Seuili and Lofi Khan-Periera all going to Keebra Park to get the next generation of Keebra Park stars to link with the Titans.

David Fifita spent his junior rugby league career at lock, including for Keebra Park at the school boy level but has spent his time in the NRL, in State of Origin and International level in the second row and impressively is outstanding whether he is playing on the left or right side of the ruck.

There is no need to come up with an NRL player that David Fifita plays similar too, he is literally in a category all on his own.