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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Queensland Maroons debutant Jojo Fifita has revealed he has not ruled out a return to rugby union to pursue the Wallabies ambitions he held before making the jump to the NRL.<\/p>\n While he has made his name at the Titans, the 23-year-old\u2019s first passion was to follow in his father Pila\u2019s footsteps. Pila represented Tonga at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, while a young Fifita took his talents to The Southport School on the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n In 2019, he coincidentally faced an Ipswich Grammar School outfit spearheaded by fellow uncapped Maroon Sam Walker in a 29-all draw to secure TSS an undefeated GPS Championships season.<\/p>\n \u201cSammy was the one running amok, it\u2019s crazy to see him here too debuting at the same time,\u201d Fifita said.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t really have any idea I was going to go into league at that moment, and I probably wouldn\u2019t have dreamed of this moment 10 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Fifita admitted pulling on a Wallabies jersey had been his initial goal. At one stage, he scored four tries in a game with former Australia coach Dave Rennie watching on, and he confirmed it remained an option for him at some point in the future.<\/p>\n \u201c[Going back to union] is definitely there in the back of my mind \u2013 probably not right now, but maybe in the near future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Fifita\u2019s parents were the first he called upon his Maroons initiation, each bursting into tears as he did.<\/p>\n It was Fifita\u2019s father who convinced his son to push for NRL honours. The outside back had never played rugby league until he had graduated from high school where he had also been an under-15s national sprint champion.<\/p>\n Not that the transition came easily. He admitted his first training session with Tweed Seagulls proved a wake-up call as he adjusted to retreating 10 metres into defence to get onside. \u201cProbably took a whole year for my calves to get used to it,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n While Fifita\u2019s immediate future is in league, Australian rugby\u2019s facelift could mean a host of past and present NRL stars feature at next year\u2019s Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase will make the shift at season\u2019s end and seek to join fellow former Rooster Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii in the gold jumper, with 2025 Blues star Zac Lomax now plying his trade for the Western Force.<\/p>\n Fifita\u2019s one-time Titans teammate Carter Gordon has starred for the Queensland Reds this year, and former Manly product Tom Wright has been the country\u2019s top fullback this decade.<\/p>\n Related Article Fifita and Walker are joined by Pat Carrigan (St Joseph\u2019s College, Gregory Terrace), Kalyn Ponga (Anglican Church Grammar School) and Robert Toia (St Joseph\u2019s College, Nudgee) as Maroons who were educated at rugby union-dominated schools.<\/p>\n Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss, who made his name as a player in rugby league with the Maroons and North Sydney Bears, said while cross-code prospects would always be considered, union was keeping an eye on the school systems to ensure good talent was not lost.<\/p>\n \u201cI can speak from my small opportunity with RA that we are [monitoring school talent]. It\u2019s just not as big and loud as other codes, but we are keeping a close eye on everyone on the ground,\u201d Kiss said.<\/p>\n While the respective games have a history of player exchanges, former dual-code star Brad Thorn said the transition was far from easy.<\/p>\n Thorn became a premiership hero for the Brisbane Broncos, and featured for Queensland in 14 Origin games. He is also a Rugby World Cup winner with the All Blacks and won the 2008 Super Rugby title with the Crusaders.<\/p>\n After two stints in each code, Thorn still struggles to fathom how he made it work, but said more should consider following his lead.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who wants to have a crack at that, I fully endorse either way. You live once. If you want to test yourself, that\u2019s a pretty good test,\u201d Thorn said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s humbling, and it takes some perseverance and some dedication to finally get instinctive in the game and start to be able to express the talent they have.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a part of me also that I want to back the guys who grow up playing rugby. There are guys coming across and doing different things and good on them \u2013 they\u2019re taking on a challenge \u2013 but I also think there are really quality rugby kids coming through, and that\u2019s been the dream the whole way.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Jojo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/b841dc968bcd5ae0e4af4a894dbd2ad98307e741.jpeg\")
Jojo Fifita will make his State of Origin debut for Queensland. AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779362960_912_4f90815c7d4829e7ca7b2801ba1d60a601e1ce63.jpeg\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Brad](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/b87bac3f79f820bf684b770372c4bc62a48cb226.jpeg\")
Brad Thorn, pictured with the Bledisloe Cup, won a World Cup with the All Blacks, as well as NRL title with the Broncos. Paul Harris<\/p>\n