Des Opens Up on Fifita’s Exit Amid Ongoing Titans Struggles

Des breaks Fifita silence following loss | 02:39

Titans coach Des Hasler has broken his silence on his mammoth decision to drop superstar David Fifita following his side’s disappointing 38-18 loss to the Bulldogs.

Fifita turned out for the Ipswich Jets on Sunday, who lost 32-0, running for 58 metres and making 20 tackles in the back row after he was named in the extended reserves on Tuesday.

The Titans shifted Hasler’s Tuesday media appearance, answering questions on the game ahead before his team was named and his shock call was revealed at 4pm that day.

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Hasler was asked if he would be looking to recall Fifita and his reason behind that decision, with the Gold Coast now desperate to end a five-game losing streak.

“We will have a look post game, he’s had to review some areas and he had some thinking to do in some areas,” Hasler said.

“So we will assess that and we will go again… just some areas that we wanted him to look at that he has worked on. Some thinking along those lines.

“We will get through this weekend and then we will review and we will go again, we have a very short turnaround for Newcastle.”

Hasler also said he didn’t want to “overreact” and make wholesale changes to his side, with Jayden Campbell and Kieran Foran a possibility of returning in Round 10.

Fifita is currently earning a reported $1 million per-season, with his current deal running until the end of the 2026 season after activating an option in his favour last year.

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That decision was made after he backflipped on a move to the Roosters, turning down a four-year deal with the glamour club to instead remain on the Gold Coast.

When asked how he would sum up the Titans’ latest loss, Hasler cut a frustrated figure.

“We have got to spot letting the game slip away really, we overcame some obstacles during the game,” Hasler said.

“Losing Tom Weaver early didn’t help, but we got back into the game. We fought well… we let ourselves down, we just let ourselves down.

“On a catch, on a tackle, we just let them get away again after halftime.”