{"id":884822,"date":"2026-09-08T20:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T20:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/884822\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T20:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T20:06:18","slug":"nrl-2026-david-fifita-finds-happiness-at-the-rabbitohs-after-family-tragedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/884822\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL 2026: David Fifita finds happiness at the Rabbitohs after family tragedy"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Sydney superstar David Fifita has one eye on Friday night\u2019s elimination final against the Knights, but the following day will be an emotional one for him and his family as they remember his father who died a year ago.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a difficult few days for the young man given Father\u2019s Day was on Sunday, with Fifita now having to endure another emotional weekend a year after he lost one of his idols. <\/p>\n

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has played a key role mentoring him throughout his footy career, and his guidance will be important this weekend for Fifita who made the move to Souths after a rocky stint on the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came down here in November, my father passed away. It will be pretty much one year soon, on the 12th,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a very emotional time for my family and myself. <\/p>\n

\u201cI do everything for him. I know he\u2019s looking down on me, and I make him, my mum, and everyone proud in Brissy.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t really know what I went through to come down here at such a young age and leave all my family in Brissy. It was very tough, and to be here with a coach like Wayne and the staff that really have that support for me, meant a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fifita made his debut as a teenager with the Broncos in 2018, and the barnstorming back-rower revealed his dad was a Brisbane fan because of Bennett who was also his coach up there. <\/p>\n

The master coach has been an influential figure in Fifita\u2019s life at a time when people questioned whether his career was over as he battled a serious foot injury. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had those dark days with my injuries and people thought I was done. Wayne trusted me and believed in me as a 24-year-old. I\u2019m happy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople were saying I could be finished with my career and stuff like that. But to be on the other side with a smile and where I\u2019m at today, it really means a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone loves Wayne. Wayne is Brisbane, the heart of Queensland. It\u2019s good to be here with Wayne. He\u2019s from Queensland, and I feel that comfort because I\u2019m from Queensland too. He\u2019s got my back, I\u2019ve got his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known Wayne since I was 15 or 16 years old through the Broncos juniors coming through. It was a tough time because I was at the Broncos at that time and there was a young crop of lads there in the same age group. <\/p>\n

\u201cThen he left and moved on, and I went to the Gold Coast. A couple more years, six years later, I\u2019m back with him. It\u2019s a full-circle moment and I\u2019m very blessed to be back with him. I\u2019m looking forward to repaying the faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very much like a second father to me. He just gave me a hug, spoke to me about what he can do for me and what I can do for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fifita would\u2019ve been back in Queensland this weekend with his family to remember his dad, but instead he\u2019ll be doing him proud on the field in the finals. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know my dad is looking from above with me every step of the way. He would want me to be playing rugby league to the best of my potential,\u201d he said in his first interview of the season. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe loved Wayne, he loved me, and I loved him. It\u2019s just so good to play at such a great club and have the support.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just love my dad. I cherish the moments. I still have all the videos and voice calls on my phone, and I hear them. <\/p>\n

\u201cI go through my days where I get down and out, but coming to work makes me very happy with the boys. I have a good support system there with my family and my coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for his form, Fifita is playing as well as ever with 19 tackle busts and two tries in his past two games including a terrifying long-range effort against the Titans where it looked like it was men against boys.<\/p>\n

The former Origin star said he was enjoying his footy again after a brutal couple of years at the Titans where he struggled to get on the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a few issues with my ankle at the end of 2024, and then it\u2019s been a long 2024 and then 2025. I had two or three surgeries in that period of time,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou understand what goes through my head as a 24-year-old. I\u2019m very young and people are telling me this and that about my future in the sport. <\/p>\n

\u201cSince I\u2019ve come here I\u2019ve really enjoyed it, and it\u2019s lifted me. I have good support around me with my coach, the physios, the staff, and the boys. The boys are really welcoming, and I feel the love. I really love that about this club.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really had some dark days, just second-guessing myself and thinking \u2018do I still have it?\u2019 But I reassured that. I\u2019m really confident in my ability, and it gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally published as \u2018Dark days\u2019: David Fifita pays an emotional tribute to his late father ahead of knockout final<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"South Sydney superstar David Fifita has one eye on Friday night\u2019s elimination final against the Knights, but 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