David Fifita (rugby league, born 1989)

David Fifita (born 28 June 1989) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for Wakefield Trinity in the Super League.

Not to be confused with David Fifita (rugby league, born 2000).

Dave Fifita
Personal information
Full nameDavid Fifita
Born (1989-06-28) 28 June 1989
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 4 in (1.94 m)
Weight18 st 13 lb (120 kg)
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–13 Lézignan Sangliers
2014–16 Cronulla Sharks 19 0 0 0 0
2016– Wakefield Trinity 96 19 1 0 78
2017(loan) → Dewsbury Rams 1 0 0 0 0
Total 116 19 1 0 78
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–16 Tonga 3 0 0 0 0
2015 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
As of 11 January 2021
Source: [1][2]

He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. He has spent time on loan from Wakefield at the Dewsbury Rams in the Championship.

Background

He was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia.

Fifita is of Indigenous Australian and Tongan descent and played his junior rugby league for St Patricks Blacktown and Doonside Roos, before being signed by the Wests Tigers.

Fifita is the twin brother of fellow Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player Andrew Fifita, and cousin of Brisbane Broncos player David Fifita[3] He is not related to John Fifita, a former St George Dragons player.[4] Fifita's elder brother Latu Fifita plays for Workington Town in the Kingstone Press Championship.[5]

Playing career

Early career

In 2009, Fifita played for the Wests Tigers' NYC team[6] In 2010, he played for Tonga alongside his brother.[3] In 2011, he moved on to the Tigers' New South Wales Cup teams, Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies. At the end of 2012, he joined the Lézignan Sangliers in the Elite One Championship.[7]

In June 2013, after finishing his season with Lézignan, he attracted the interest of NRL clubs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Melbourne Storm.[7]

Fifita playing for the Sharks in 2013

He eventually signed a contract with the Sharks for the rest of the 2013 NRL season, the club where his twin brother Andrew played.[8] After playing 6 games for the Sharks in the NSW Cup, he re-signed with them for 2014.[9]

Fifita was a member of the 2013 NSW Cup premiership side which defeated Windsor Wolves 38-6 in the grand final.[10]

2014

In Round 2 of the 2014 NRL season, Fifita made his NRL début for the Sharks against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[11] On 17 July 2014, he re-signed with the Sharks on a 2-year contract.[12]

2015

On 13 February 2015, Fifita played for the Indigenous All Stars against the NRL All Stars in the 2015 All Stars match.[13] In October, Fifita was selected in Tonga's 48-man train-on squad for the Asia-Pacific Qualifier for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[14] He would go on to make the final 18-man squad where he would be named the 18th man and would fill in for any late injuries, suspensions or tactical changes.[15] He would go on to play in that match, in what was only his second appearance for Tonga, after filling in for Leilani Latu.

2016

On 7 May, Fifita played for Tonga against Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup.[16] On 10 June, after gaining a release from the Sharks, he joined the Wakefield Trinity in the Super League on a 1-year contract, with an option for a second year, effective immediately. Fifita has turned into a big fans favourite at Wakefield Trinity due to his physical dominance in the middle of the park, a barnstorming prop.[17][18]

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. "David Fifita - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. Chris Barrett. "Brotherly shove: Fifita double act ready to give opponents trouble". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. "Greenberg keen to sign Graham to long-term deal". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. "Latu Fifita goes from wild child to brink of NRL with Cowboys". Daily Telegraph. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113232524/http://rleague.com/players/David-Fifita_2485/Matches/. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "The Battle For David Fifita –". Stevemascord.com. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  8. Michael Carayannis. "Fifita has ground to make up to catch twin brother". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. "David Fifita Twin of Cronulla Superstar Prop Andrew Scores NRL Contract with Sharks". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/fair-go-for-david-fifita-in-nrl-at-cronulla-sharks-20140322-hvlla.html
  11. "Late Mail - Sharks v Bulldogs". Sharks. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. "secure talented pair". Sharks. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. "Final All Stars teams announced". NRL.com. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. "Tonga name preliminary train-on squad". NRL.com. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  15. "Tonga finalise squad for World Cup Qualifier". asiapacificrl.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  16. "Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  17. "Sharks release Fifita". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  18. Patterson, Mike (10 June 2016). "Wakefield sign prop David Fifita from Cronulla Sharks | Rugby League News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
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