NRL 2020: David Fifita to escape ban for trespassing arrest, set for Broncos clash

David Fifita was arrested last week for the second time in as many years, but the Titans recruit looks set to avoid suspension again as the NRL investigates.

David Fifita. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

David Fifita’s Round 2 grudge match against the Broncos is set to get the green light with the Gold Coast Titans’ $3.5 million man expected to dodge an NRL suspension following his trespassing mix-up.

For the second time in as many years, Fifita is on track to escape suspension from the NRL following an incident involving police.

The Queensland Origin star was arrested by police on Sunday morning following allegations of trespassing at a Gold Coast property.

The incident was discovered to be a mix-up after Fifita reportedly entered the wrong room of a house he was invited to by a woman, prompting the occupants to call triple-0.

Titans recruit David Fifita will go head-to-head against his former club the Broncos in round 2. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Fifita was released without charge or a fine and was later issued a caution by police.

While police will take no further action, the NRL Integrity Unit will investigate the incident over the coming weeks following the Christmas break.

However News Corp understands there are unlikely to be any serious sanctions handed down by the NRL given the nature of the incident.

While being questioned by police is a poor look, Fifita is not understood to have had any malicious intentions as his actions were a mistake.

The hulking backrower will face his former club at Cbus Super Stadium on March 19, with the NRL scheduling a Friday night blockbuster for Fifita’s first clash against the Broncos.

David Fifita had a turbulent exit from Red Hill. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Fifita, 20, had a turbulent exit from the Broncos following a prolonged contract negotiation which eventually resulted in him walking out on Brisbane to join the club’s south east Queensland rivals.

His departure from Brisbane came after the Broncos went above and beyond to extract Fifita from a Bali jail in November, 2019.

Fifita became embroiled in an alleged extortion plot after an incident with a Bali nightclub bouncer resulted in him spending three days locked up without being charged.

Brisbane’s welfare boss Adam Walsh flew to Bali to help broker Fifita’s $30,000 release.

The NRL Integrity Unit opted not to further sanction Fifita after they struggled to obtain information from the Balinese.

David Fifita after being detained by Bali police. Picture: Supplied

Fifita has maintained he did nothing wrong in Bali and was the victim of an extortion plot.

His run-in with Gold Coast police is an unfortunate start to his three-year contract with the Titans which has made him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.

Fifita will pull on Titans colours for the first time in an NRL match when the Gold Coast start their 2021 campaign against the New Zealand Warriors at the Central Coast on March 13.

He will then make his first appearance on home soil against his former club in what could be a sold-out clash at Cbus Super Stadium following the resurgence of the Titans in 2020.

Originally published as NRL 2020: David Fifita to escape ban for trespassing arrest, set for Broncos clash