NRL 2020: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui the secret weapon for Titans to snag David Fifita
David Fifita’s signature is the most sought-after in the NRL, and the Gold Coast Titans have a secret weapon that could convince the gun teen to head down the M1.
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TITANS recruit Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has emerged as the secret weapon in a bid to bring Broncos sensation David Fifita to the Gold Coast.
Blindside understands Storm monster Fa’asuamaleaui, who will join the Titans next year, has reached out to Fifita, spruiking the merits of reuniting as a back-row force to turn the Coast into a title contender.
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Fifita is off-contract at season’s end and has yet to strike a deal with the Broncos. The 19-year-old Indigenous All Stars powerhouse is the most sought-after forward in the NRL, having attracted $1 million-a-season interest from Parramatta and the Warriors.
But Tino is doing his best to make Fifita a Titan.
The duo have been good mates for almost a decade, with Fa’asuamaleaui and Fifita having come through Queensland’s junior representative ranks together.
While it will take a lot to prise Fifita from the Broncos, the 107kg hulk has strong links at the Titans. He attended Gold Coast’s Keebra Park high and is particularly close to Fa’asuamaleaui and playmaker Tanah Boyd, who joined the Titans from the Broncos last year.
Fa’asuamaleaui is capable of playing in the front row but the 113kg man mountain would relish the prospect of teaming with Fifita on the edges.
“I’m really enjoying the second row at the moment,” he said.
“I can play in the middle but I enjoy being on the edge, getting one-on-one with guys and using my skills a bit more.
“Second row is where I’m keen to play at the Titans.”
Thursto’s sneak peak
THIS is the picture every North Queensland rugby league fan will treasure.
The Cowboys will officially unveil the Johnathan Thurston statue outside North Queensland Stadium on Friday at 10am ahead of the new venue’s opening for the Round 1 clash against the Broncos on March 13.
Blindside exclusively captured Thurston in the flesh yesterday mounting the bronze ball to complete his statue outside the $250 million stadium.
It is an iconic replica of the magical moment Thurston snapped the extra-time field goal which beat the Broncos 17-16 in the 2015 NRL grand final to clinch the Cowboys’ first premiership.
Hammer in tug of war
HE is the NRL’s latest speed sensation – and Cowboys flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is set to spark an international tug of war.
Blindside can reveal ‘The Hammer’, who starred for the Cowboys in last week’s NRL Nines tournament victory, is up for grabs at international level with the 18-year-old also eligible for Samoa.
The flashy utility back has Samoan heritage via his father and because they are a second-tier nation, Samoa could select Tabuai-Fidow without eventually blocking his chances of playing for Queensland and Australia.
A number of established NRL stars have turned out for Samoa before playing State of Origin, including Broncos pivot Anthony Milford and Cowboys hardman Josh McGuire.
Samoa coach Matt Parish is sure to keep a close eye on Tabuai-Fidow, who has been clocked at 10.85 seconds over 100 metres. Samoa are hoping to play a Test against Tonga this year and Tabuai-Fidow could feature at the 2021 World Cup when the Pacific nation features in the tournament opener against England.
Wherever he plays, The Hammer is settled at North Queensland. Tabuai-Fidow is contracted to the Cowboys until the end of 2022 and club insiders believe he will be a 10-year NRL player.
Demetriou gets his shot
FORMER Broncos and Cowboys assistant Jason Demetriou is set to finally realise his dream of becoming an NRL head coach.
South Sydney’s succession plan for Wayne Bennett is shifting gears with the 70-year-old super coach privately grooming Demetriou with a view to him being unveiled as his successor at the Rabbitohs in 2022.
Demetriou is so content at Souths his wife and children, who remained in Brisbane last year, have relocated to Sydney.
Bennett has made it clear to Souths hierarchy he wants Demetriou to succeed him and influential Rabbitohs bosses have been highly impressed with ‘JD’s’ knowledge and ability to connect with players.
While Demetriou has not formally signed a contract as head coach, internally he has received assurances he is doing all the right things to launch his NRL career.
Bennett doesn’t issue praise easily but he has a huge wrap on Demetriou, who helped the Cowboys to the 2015 premiership before linking with him at the Broncos.
Sei-bold and beautiful
ANTHONY Seibold’s ‘Zuu Fitness’ challenge has paid dividends with the Broncos coach losing an impressive 6kg over the summer.
Seibold undertook a fitness regimen to raise awareness for mental health among males and has also taken to pilates in a bid to ensure he is at his physical and mental peak for the pressures of NRL coaching.
The SpitPhase challenge involved Seibold doing a 10-minute high intensity session every morning for a month.
Zuu is based on animal movements, meaning Seibold was bouncing around the Broncos’ gym like a gorilla all for a good cause.
Grandpa Preston
LEAGUE legend Preston Campbell has become a grandfather at the ripe old age of 42.
Campbell welcomed his first grandchild six weeks ago and is over the moon.
Campbell became a father himself at a young age and told Blindside he is feeling reinvigorated to have another baby in the family.
This week is hugely important week for Campbell.
He will watch his son Jayden play for the Gold Coast Titans in a trial Friday night before being part of the 10-year anniversary of the All Stars game at Cbus Super Stadium tomorrow.
Campbell was one of the leading figures in the creation of the Indigenous All Stars concept.
Cut price Broncos
YOU could forgive league fans for feeling short-changed after forking out money to watch the “Broncos” play a trial against Wynnum-Manly on Friday night.
With their top squad in Cairns to face the Cowboys tomorrow, the Broncos have named a team of reserve graders for the Wynnum game.
Only two players - Tyson Gamble and Darren Nicholls - have played in the NRL before, boasting a total of four games between them and no appearances for the Broncos.
Tickets for the trial range from $5-30 and many have already sold out, including the grandstand seating and premium bar tickets.
The Broncos played a trial in Rockhampton last Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd of 5000.
The Rocky faithful got a glimpse of NRL stars Darius Boyd, Jack Bird and Tevita Pangai Jr among others in what was a huge fundraising exercise for the CQ Capras.
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