David Fifita it might be fair to say has lived in the large shadow cast by his twin brother Andrew when it comes to their rugby league careers.
While Andrew has played for NSW and Australia and has forged a reputation as one of the games’ leading front rowers since debuting in the NRL back in 2010, David had his first game in 2014 and has played just three matches in the top grade.
However few would have noticed a difference when it came to David’s input and impact in the Indigenous Team’s win at the All Stars game last Friday night.
Understandably he was excited and proud to have contributed to the 20-6 Indigenous victory,
“It’s the first game I’ve won at the senior level,” David said. “We lost the three Sharks games I played last year so it was nice to get a win.
“It was also great to have the support of family and friends, the Indigenous community who were in the crowd and to get a win for them as well,” he added.
Playing for an Indigenous team which went into the match short on forwards, that situation made worse by a neck injury to Souths youngster Kyle Turner, David was forced to play more minutes than he was expecting.
“It seemed like every time I went to the bench they said David you’re back on. But I didn’t mind, I wanted to play as many minutes as I could and prove myself at that level,” Fifita said.
And prove himself he did, standing up to the more experienced NRL All Stars pack as he helped his side come out on top in the forward battle.
From here, it is about trying to cement a place in the Sharks starting side for round one, and if he can do so it will likely be alongside his brother Andrew.
“I want to play well in the trial this week and hopefully earn a place on the bench and in the 17, or maybe in the starting side,” David said.
Also playing well for the Indigenous All Stars was Sharks new recruit Ben Barba, who after a slow start to the game blossomed in the five eighth role in the second half as he partnered with Johnathan Thurston, the pair guiding their team to victory.
Barba and David Fifita will most certainly be on deck for the Sharks trial match against the Tigers on Saturday night, with Andrew Fifita also expected to play after haivng overcome arm and wrist injuries.
The Tigers trial is at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night, kicking off at 7.00pm.
