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"He has not been the same player": Johns and Kemp on Fifita axing
Nicholas Quinlan • May 4th, 2025 6:00 pm
David Fifita has been questioned by Matty Johns and Denan Kemp about his ability to lift the Gold Coast Titans out of their slump.
After starting the season 2-1 and sitting fifth on the ladder after Round 4, the Titans have slumped to 14th after losing four games in a row and by an average margin of 21.6 points.
With that, coach Des Hasler has swung the selection axe with Fifita being the big out, having been in the reserves for this week’s match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
When speaking on the Titans, Johns was somewhat sympathetic towards their cause believing that Fifita is not playing to his capabilities.
“I can only imagine for the Titans, how frustrating it is with Dave,” Johns said on SEN 1170’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
“Sometimes the way he plays, like a bloke who has just got so many gifts and seems so reluctant to use them.”
Kemp was surprised that the Hasler and the Titans didn’t go further in who they axed, believing that they should have gone deeper than just Fifita.
“I’m torn on this one because I feel like, if you going to do it, do more than that,” Kemp said.
“What I found strange is just dropping him and not some other players.
“Like, I feel that their problems are even deeper than just that.
“So that’s why I just feel that it was strange that just him (Fifita) was removed from the side when I feel that they need an even stronger axe than that at the moment in regards to the Titans.”
However, Kemp feels that since Fifita’s backflip on the four-year deal he signed with the Sydney Roosters last year, he has not been the same player.
“But in regards to Dave Fifita, ever since that whole Roosters situation, it has just not been the same,” he added.
“He has just not been the same player; he didn’t make the Origin the same year, got left out of that side.
“In a year where we have no depth in the edge back rowers, all of a sudden, he’s found himself out of the first-grade side.
“Now granted, I know he’s had injuries… kind of this year.
“But at the same time, he’s had so much potential and talent, he’s just never really fulfilled where we thought he would go.”
The Titans will look to snap their four-game losing streak when they take on the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon as part of Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium.
