NRL 2022: Titans star David Fifita reveals secret injury battle
Free of pain after an injury-interrupted end to the 2021 season, David Fifita promises he will return a more complete player - and that’s good news for the Titans’ young halfback.
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David Fifita has revealed he received four painkilling injections per match to dull the agony of a rib cartilage injury he battled through the final five matches of the Titans season.
Fifita scored five of his record 17 tries in his debut season with Gold Coast wearing a chest guard to protect the severe rib injury he suffered against the Cowboys in Round 21.
The pain was so intense Fifita said it took a modified training regimen and four injections to numb the pain enough to take the field against the Rabbitohs, Storm, Knights, Warriors and Roosters in the preliminary final.
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Fifita admitted he kept the severity of his injury a secret from the public.
“I had four needles every time just to numb it,” the 21-year-old Queensland forward said.
“It was really sore. The staff helped me throughout the week with modified (sessions).
“Every game when I hurt it against the Cowboys.”
Fifita played 297 out of a possible 400 minutes in the five matches after the Cowboys game.
The young forward said the time away from the game had allowed him to make a full recovery as he works towards being an 80-minute player on the Titans right edge, partnering young halfback Toby Sexton.
“I can’t predict the future, I just have to be ready for whatever,” Fifita said.
“I had an ongoing injury but that is gone now.
“The eight-week break helped me, I don’t feel it and have it anymore.”
Fifita said he had only fulfilled his pre-season vow of improving his defence “in patches” and declared he would return in 2022 a more complete player.
“I’m working hard on it this season, not just my defence but my attack and my combo with Toby Sexton,” he said.
Fifita cut a slimmer figure at training than at the end of the season, which he credited to the Gold Coast sunshine, diet and hard work.
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