Rugby League Central Coast: David Fifita explains reason behind Kincumber Colts move

After a 13-year professional career, find out why former NRL and Super League player David Fifita has chosen to lead Kincumber in the Central Coast competition.

David Fifita, pictured playing at a recent Nines rugby league event, will lead Kincumber as captain-coach this season. Picture: Richard Walker

After a 13-year professional career, more than 170 games at the top and having represented Tonga in international football, David Fifita has achieved more than most in rugby league.

However despite all this the 35-year-old forward is still as keen as ever to keep playing the game at the local level.

After lining up for The Entrance Tigers in Newcastle’s Denton Engineering Cup following his return to Australia in 2023, Fifita will lead the Kincumber Colts as captain-coach for the upcoming campaign in the local Central Coast competition – a decision that had a very special inspiration behind it.

“Kincumber is where all my children play. I live around the area and my kids are at the club,” he said.

Indeed, with his daughter playing football with the children of former Kincumber first grade coach Brad Bennett, Fifita had been a big target of the Colts for a while.

Fifita spent the last two season with The Entrance. Picture: Sue Graham

“They were into me all last year about coming down. Then one of my best mates who I grew up playing footy with down in the Penrith comp has just moved to Kincumber and that’s where his children are going to play, so I thought why not set an example for what could be my last couple of seasons?”

More than just winning games of footy, Fifita wanted to help strengthen the club and create a legacy for his kids coming through the ranks.

“So the bigger thing is to try and bring the club back together as one with the seniors and juniors and get back on top.”

While Fifita’s children helped Kincumber get the deal over the line, it was a connection from the 35-year-old’s own childhood that helped secure the signature of the competition’s biggest name: former Penrith, Cronulla, NSW and Australia playmaker Matt Moylan.

Growing up, Fifita and his twin Andrew were best friends with Moylan’s older brother, Australia Touch Football representative Ben, with young Matt joining in for games of backyard footy.

Now, decades later, David has the chance to once again play footy alongside Moylan for the first time since they were kids running around in western Sydney.

“We all played for the same junior club growing up so we’ve got great ties,” he said. “We always said that we’ll come back and play together. His brother isn’t allowed to play, his wife won’t let him. But we told Matty what we wanted and he said he was happy to come back and help us out.”

Fifita’s and Moylan’s signatures add to what is forming as a formidable roster for the Colts, who have a remarkable five players who have played at NRL level.

Former Sydney Roosters’ pair Ben Thomas and Ben Marschke are returning for their second season at the club while outside back Nathan Davis, who played nine games for Parramatta and the Gold Coast in 2016 and 2017, has also come onboard.

Matt Moylan looms as the marquee signing for the competition. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The new recruits have led many to predict that the Colts, who finished last season in seventh place with just two wins, could well challenge for the title.

“I watched a few games at the back end of last year and they’ve got everything they need, it was just the execution that was lacking a bit,” said Fifita.

“But their forward pack was just about the best on ground in the comp and that’s what we’re trying to build around. They’ve already got that sorted. I’m trying to make that forward pack firstly, but if you add myself into it then we’re looking good.

“We’ve got that core there and I’ve just been trying to add players in and around that to help us get to the next level.”

While Fifita and Moylan are set to be a huge drawcard for Central Coast footy fans this season, the competition has been robbed of what could have been a clash between David and his twin brother and NRL premiership winner Andrew, with the latter deciding to play with De La Salle in the Cronulla district competition after lining up for Woy Woy last year.

“He’s taking a leaf out of my book because all his kids play at that club. But I just say that he’s running from me, that’s all,” laughs Fifita.

Ben Marschke is one of five former NRL players playing for Kincumber this season. Picture: Sue Graham

Nevertheless, the round three clash with the Roosters is expected to be highly anticipated, with Fifita’s brother Kyle McLean lining up in the outside backs and fellow sibling Blake McLean coaching Woy Woy.

And while it’s still a few weeks away, the first friendly shots across the bow have already been fired.

“I’ve been saying to Blake that we’ve got no pressure on us,” said Fifita. “We’re not the ones who just lost the semi last year and got kicked out for some ridiculous reason. All the pressure’s on them, they’ve got to back it up this year and play as good as they played last year.”

But first, Fifita’s attention is turning to Terrigal, who the Colts will welcome to MacKillop Oval for a huge round one clash on Saturday afternoon as 4:05pm.

Given that it was Fifita’s children who brought him to the club, it seems apt that his first game for the Colts will take place on the club’s family day, which features a jumping castle, face painting and the chance for fans to see the skipper and Moylan in red and white for the first time.

“The good thing is that last year I actually got to experience it because it was Andrew’s first game up here and the set up was great,” said Fifita.

“There were a lot of people down there, everyone was just enjoying local footy and it was great to come and watch. There were jumping castles and everything for the kids, it was great.”

And while there will be a festival atmosphere at the ground for the season opener, in some ways it will be nothing out of the ordinary for Fifita and his Colts.

“That’s something we’ve brought in this year, I told everyone to bring all their kids to training. I love seeing them playing footy on the side while they watch their parents train and play league tag, because some come down with their mums too. It’s awesome to see. Every Thursday night we have a sausage sizzle and watch the footy together – it’s such a great club.”