Titans wrecking ball David Fifita sends scary warning to NRL

Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden ran riot in the second half, while Titans star David Fifita delivered a “complete” performance. BIG HITS!

David Fifita, AJ Brimson and Tom dearden

The Cowboys have claimed a second win for the 2023 season with a scrappy 24-12 victory over the Titans in the second Queensland derby of the weekend.

Justin Holbrook’s Gold Coast side were dealt a brutal blow only 20 minutes into the clash, with both Kieran Foran and AJ Brimson leaving the field injured.

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The Cowboys also lost two players with both Murray Taulagi (knee) and James Tamou (foot) suffering injuries.

Despite losing key players, the Titans were valiant in defeat, scoring the first try only three minutes into the clash through winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira.

It took 34 more minutes for the next four pointer, with the Cowboys scoring their first try of the night courtesy of a Chad Townsend short ball.

Gun backrower Jeremiah Nanai was able to charge over the line after the Cowboys consistently threatened.

Veteran prop James Tamou then scored an unlikely try, darting through a hole to dive down and ground the ball.

The Cowboys did enough to claim the win. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

But the Titans wouldn’t stand down, with David Fifita finding his winger with a no-look pass for Khan-Pereira’s second of the night.

It couldn’t stop the Cowboys from claiming the side’s second win of the season, despite Nanai being sin binned for an ugly lifting tackle.

In bizarre scenes, Tom Chester then scored the next try with only minutes left on the clock, kicking the ball forward after it was offloaded into his face.

Chester dived on a Jayden Campbell error to score in a comedy of errors to close out the contest.

Despite the loss, Fifita, who has been on a massive deal with the Titans worth over a $1m a season for the past three years, has struggled to live up to his billing as he plays on the edges rather than the engine room.

While the Titans struggled to compete after losing the most experienced players in the side’s spine, Fifita impressed.

The 23-year-old signed with the Gold Coast until 2026 in early March and that decision looks to have paid dividends with Fifita back to his barnstorming best.

In a losing side against the Cowboys, Fifita recorded 142 running metres, three tackle breaks and two try assists, finding Khan-Pereira for both of his tries.

Fifita did everything in his power. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Fox League’s Corey Parker signalled a big warning to the rest of the competition, hailing Fifita’s “complete” performance.

“David Fifita has had an all-round terrific game, finds some speed to turn with a no-look pass,” Parker said.

“Plenty of character shown by Holbrook’s men… there’s always a lot spoken about David Fifita and what he can produce.

“But I haven’t seen such a complete game from him in a long time, he has passed when he had to, he has run the ball when he has had to.”

Despite Fifita’s efforts, the Titans were listless without Foran and Brimson, who suffered a hamstring and a calf injury respectively.

A sight no Titans fan wants to see. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The dual blow forced Justin Holbrook into a huge spine shake-up and the Titans looked weak in defence and lacklustre in defence after losing both within two minutes.

Foran left the field in the 23rd minute before Brimson departed 90 seconds later, shuffling Jayden Campbell into fullback and Erin Clark into the halves.

Fox League’s Mal Meninga signalled the big issues the pair of losses could cause, and the Gold Coast folded in the second half to go down 24-12.

“Two key positions in the team obviously, fullback and five eighth who take control of most things that happen,” Meninga said at half time.

“Defensively obviously it’s going to create some headaches, but Jayden Campbell has come back at fullback, he hasn’t had much game time.”

Originally published as Titans wrecking ball David Fifita sends scary warning to NRL