NRL 2020: Gold Coast Titans warned to avoid using David Fifita as a one-man band
After the Gold Coast pack handed $3.5m signing David Fifita a stinging reality check as their welcoming present, Broncos coach Peter Gentle issued a warning to the star’s future club.
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Broncos interim coach Peter Gentle has warned the Gold Coast not to rely on David Fifita as a one-man band as the boom backrower prepares for his move down the M1 next season.
Fifita came up against his soon-to-be teammates on Saturday night in Brisbane’s demoralising 18-6 defeat to the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.
It was the first time Fifita faced the Titans since inking a $3.5 million deal to join them next season and the Gold Coast pack handed him a stinging reality check as their welcoming present.
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The superstar Bronco was well-contained, despite finishing the match with 150 running metres, three offloads and a tackle bust.
A positional switch for Fifita almost created a scoring opportunity but Gentle reminded the Titans that his star backrower was not a one-man side.
“A lot of teams are doing their homework on Dave,” Gentle said.
“You find they’re leaving early and getting up in his face.
“We moved him over to the other side and nearly had a bit of luck.
“We know what plays Dave likes but … the Titans, when he gets there, can’t rely on Dave to be a one-man team.”
Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook kept a keen eye on his future recruit during their historic win and was pleased by Gentle’s assessment that Fifita was not their sole superstar.
“I’m glad Pete said that because I’ve said it myself, he’s just coming here to do his job for the side,” Holbrook said.
“We’ve shown that.
“With Ash (Taylor) and Jamal Fogarty doing a great job, we’ve got AJ (Brimson) there so we’ve got plenty of key guys in our side and Dave’s just going to add to that next year.
“I’m excited about that.”
The Broncos will be hoping to make the most of their time remaining with Fifita, who now has just two games left at Red Hill.
Gentle has put the heat on the rest of his playing group to use Fifita to their advantage in their final fortnight of 2020.
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“He can’t be a one-man team for us,” Gentle said.
“People have to do the work around him.
“Where defences are coming up hard on him, or they’re putting extra numbers on his side, we’ve got to be better and exploit that.
“There’s areas of Dave’s game that we’re working on and I’m sure Justin (Holbrook) will as well.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Gold Coast Titans warned to avoid using David Fifita as a one-man band
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