With Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Beau Fermor and now, David Fifita, all recently re-signed and locked in for the next few seasons, the Gold Coast Titans have a forward pack for the future, but the club’s latest re-signing is hoping it won’t take too long before the side bring home a premiership.
Speaking to media the club’s home base of Parkwood after announcing that he will stay at the Gold Coast for three more years via a post on his personal Instagram page last night, Fifita cut a happy figure, saying his family, friends and feeling “at home” on the Gold Coast all played a major part in his decision to stay, despite interest from other clubs.
“It’s exciting news for myself and my family (to stay) here on the coast for a couple more years. I'm enjoying my time here and can't wait to share the field with the boys,” Fifita said.
“Moving forward, we've got a good squad here, good group, good coaching staff and for myself, I see myself in this team, in this jersey.
“Everyone wanted to know what I was doing, but I tried to block that out.
“But now that that's over, I'm happy. I'm happy with my decision and my family's happy, the boys are happy. I'm happy, the coaching staff (are happy) and now we have just got to keep working.
“I want to be here and I want to win. So yeah, I'm excited.”
With a weight now off his shoulders, Fifita said he did give due consideration to the options offered by other clubs, with reports of a return to the Brisbane Broncos and potentially featuring in a so-called ‘package deal’ to the Canberra Raiders with partner, Jillaroos representative Shaylee Bent, all featuring in the media cycle.
However, for the Tongan representative forward – who had until October this year to make the decision on his future – it just made sense to stay, because the coast had become home.
“This is home for me, for my family and my friends and I enjoy my footy here on the coast,” Fifita said.
“And for myself, I just want to repay the faith to my club, to my teammates and everyone that believed in me and the player that I want to be and who I know I can be; and I just want to win games with this group and this squad coming through and just make our fans and community proud.”
As well as lifting the premiership trophy at the end of the year, Fifita also held other lofty goals for his playing future.
Fifita spoke about wanting to earn back his place in the Queensland Origin set-up, and said this team under coach Justin Holbrook, and alongside experienced half Kieran Foran who was already proving key in unlocking his potential, was the one to help get the best performances out of him.
David Fifita always a threat
“In my first year, when I when I first started here, I played Origin - and I don't look too far down the track and I have to take it week-by-week for myself and for the team, (but) I think we have got the right puzzles and the right pieces for myself to back there,” Fifita said.
“And I want to be back there … I know what I need to do to deserve that spot back, (so) I'm just working hard on myself.”
While the decision made public on Monday night, Fifita played like he already had his mind at peace during his side’s Round 1 win against Wests Tigers, producing a player of the match performance, which also saw him tally five Dally M Medal votes from the judges.
Coach Holbrook will be looking for more of the same from his latest star re-signing, with the Titans heading to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium to face the Dragons in St George Illawarra's first match of the season.
“To have David commit to the Titans shows he believes in what we are building and it gives us great confidence as a club,” Holbrook in the official club announcement.
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“We have a core group of young guys committed to making our community proud here on the coast and David is a big part of that.
“I’m excited David’s decided he wants to be a Titan long-term and I’m excited to work with him as we all look to bring success to our region over the next few years.”