‘Nowhere to be seen’: NRL baffled by David Fifita’s vanishing act in Titans loss

Questions are being asked after one of the NRL’s most damaging forwards was left languishing on the bench as his side got torn apart.

Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler’s decision to leave David Fifita on the bench for 50 minutes of his side’s loss to the Bulldogs on Sunday has raised more than a few eyebrows.

The Bulldogs defeated Gold Coast 40-24 at Belmore on Sunday afternoon on the back of a five-try blitz in the first half.

Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

Canterbury’s Marcelo Montoya scored a try in the first minute of the game and it was a sign of things to come, with the Bulldogs scoring with ease throughout the game — crossing for six tries.

As the Bulldogs put the Titans to the sword, commentators and fans couldn’t help but notice Fifita was left sitting on the bench for the entire first half.

The 25-year-old second rower, who is paid around $1 million per season, was reduced to a spectator as his side got blown off the park by the Bulldogs in the first half.

David Fifita (middle) spent the entire first half sitting on the bench. Photo: Fox League.

“I thought Desy might have got David Fifita on after they got those couple of tries back to back,” Steve Roach said in Fox League commentary.

“Still sitting on the bench there. That’s the sort of time you should put him on now. They’ll wait for the second half.”

At halftime, Greg Alexander said the Bulldogs “absolutely bashed the Titans” in the opening half.

Fifita underwent ankle surgery in the off-season and Sunday’s game was played in temperatures in the high thirties, but in comparison Wests Tigers recruit Terrell May played 65 minutes in a single stint on Sunday.

Fifita eventually came on in the 50th minute to play the last half an hour of the game, but by then the Bulldogs had all but secured the victory.

The 115kg wrecking was used very sparingly. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Sports reporter Scott Bailey wrote on X: “David Fifita finally coming on the field. Titans waiting until they are down by 22 points with 30 minutes to play before unleashing one of the NRL’s most damaging forwards.”

Jack Blyth said: “We are nearly 34 minutes into the contest, the Bulldogs have lost their key playmaker … yet David Fifita hasn’t been injected yet? What is Des Hasler doing?”

One fan said: “Why is Hasler not using Fifita?

A second said: “Titans down 22-6 and David Fifita still nowhere to be seen.”

Another commented: “Titans getting poleaxed, David Fifita: 0 minutes.”

“They’ve got to get more out of people like Fifita, Gold Coast,” Matty Johns said on Fox League’s Sunday Night with Matty Johns Show.

“They need more impact out of their most important players. Tino was fantastic.”

Matt Burton suffered a MCL knee injury. Photo: Fox League.

“It was just a matter of getting him into the game,” Hasler said when asked about Fifita’s minutes post-game.

“I thought when he came on he provided impact, but when you’re chasing points it’s not going to be always easy.

Hasler noted Fifita was “coming off a disrupted off-season, but he’ll get better for the run”.

Last year Fifita was a surprising omission from Billy Slater’s Queensland State of Origin squad, although the Maroons coach didn’t give too much away about why he overlooked the 115kg wrecking ball.

Titans forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui made his long awaited return from an ACL injury in round 2 and he was one of Gold Coast’s best against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs have won their first two games of the season, but the victory was soured by a pair of grade two MCL knee injuries to key players Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau, which are expected to sideline them for at least a month.