It’s Sunday evening, the Bulldogs are tearing the Titans apart, up 28-0 in Round 2, and David Fifita – the million-dollar freight train, the guy who can turn a game with one run – is still parked on the bench 50 minutes in. What is Des Hasler playing at?
Fifita’s not some rookie you ease into a game. He’s an Origin brute, a one-man demolition crew who’s carried the Titans on his back when he’s in the mood. Yet there he was, twiddling his thumbs while the Doggie’s pack ran wild. Hasler’s excuse? A half-baked “he’s close to his best” paired with a shrug about Fifita’s ankle surgery recovery.
The stench of this call lingers. Titans supporters – bless their battered souls – had to stomach their marquee star sitting idle as the Dogs flexed their muscle. Hasler reckoned Fifita’s “best minutes” were for a second-half miracle that never sparked. Down 28-0, you don’t hoard your weapon – you unleash him and hope he breaks something, or someone.
Dig into the backstory. Fifita’s had a rough trot – ankle surgery last September, a sluggish rehab, maybe he’s not 100%. Fine, manage his load – but 50 minutes on ice while the game’s slipping into a coma? That’s not careful; it’s clueless. Hasler’s built a career on left-field genius, but this feels like he’s outsmarted himself into a corner. Over at Canterbury, Cam Ciraldo must’ve been giggling – his forwards feasted, and Fifita’s no-show was the cherry on top.
Here’s the rub: once Fifita finally got on, he still ripped through for over 100 metres in half an hour. That’s not a guy who needs kid gloves – that’s a beast who could’ve stemmed the bleeding if Hasler had the guts to use him. With Tino firing, Fifita would have been the perfect addition to the Titans pack to get back into the game.
It’ll be an interesting teams list Tuesday to see if Fifita is named to start. If he’s coming off the bench it’s just a complete waste of talent and cap spend and will just see the Titans missing the 8…again.
