Gold Coast star signing David Fifita insists he is injury-free and ready to cope with whatever pressures comes his way as the Titans' marquee man for 2021.
While Fifita likes to deflect the marquee tag onto fellow young gun Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, he knows there is a certain level of expectation that comes with being a club's rich new recruit. But that pressure is no different to growing up being dubbed the next big thing.
"I just want to play footy, that is what I love," Fifita said.
"I know how to play footy, I just need to showcase that and do my job.
"I wouldn't say there's pressure, pressure has been on me since I was a young kid. I will just keep doing what I've been doing and make the family happy."
Fifita is on the comeback trail after knee and ankle injuries prematurely ended his 2020 season and he missed Queensland's triumphant Origin series campaign.
While Titans medical staff have cautiously mapped his return on the training paddock, his playing comeback will take place in Townsville on Saturday night when he starts for the Indigenous All Stars against the Maori All Stars at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
All Stars selection is Fogarty’s finest feat
The last time Fifita was at Queensland Country Bank Stadium was for the gala opening game where he electrified the crowd with a stunning solo try in the Broncos' win over the Cowboys that sparked a bidding frenzy before he signed to join the Titans.
Confident his body is now injury-free after a wretched end to 2020, Fifita is excited to get back on the field with the Indigenous team and begin to build club combinations with Jamal Fogarty and Brian Kelly who are both in camp with the team.
"Our high performance staff down there have been really good with me," Fifita said.
"Especially the physios because when I first started I was in rehab with my ankle and knee, so now that I'm playing I can't wait to see how my lungs are come Saturday.
"I'm just happy I get to play Saturday injury-free.
"I just need to go out there and play my game how I know I play my game and just keep training hard as I've been doing at the club.
"It's our first game so the nerves are still there. Jamal is a good leader and a good talker for us forwards on the GC and here as well he is really talking well to all the boys.
"I'm looking forward to building that combination with Jamal and Brian Kelly on the right edge there."
All Stars: Where it all began
Witness the best of the best from both sides of the Tasman. As athletes and as people from the First Nations.
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Be there as cultures collide.
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