'I'm just really looking forward to ripping in' - Fifita

Gold Coast Titans hard man David Fifita is a man on a mission to prove his on-field finesse at his new club. 

The 21-year-old spent two days in hospital with an ankle infection before the Titans' Round 1 19-6 loss against the New Zealand Warriors, but still managed 71 minutes, 117 metres and 25 tackles.

Coach Justin Holbrook said he would be better prepared to fire against his old team, the Brisbane Broncos, at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday. 

The Keebra Park State High product said he wanted to solidify his spot in the team and help the Titans make the top eight this year. 

"The biggest goal for me personally is to be in the 1-17 and to play Origin," Fifita said, adding a call up for the World Cup at the end of the year would be icing on the cake. 

"I've just got to be better."

The Queensland Maroons and Indigenous All Stars representative said 2020 had been tough, but it lit the fire in his belly to have a big 2021.

"I played Round 1 and Round 2 with Brisbane Broncos, with my old team now, and we started off really well," Fifita said.

"It was a good two wins and then obviously we hit that COVID break... I injured myself in the Round 1 game against the Cowboys and I played in Round 2 against the Rabbitohs. 

"I felt something was wrong, something just wasn't right with my knee, and I got it checked out and worst case scenario... I got the scan and bang, it came back with I'd torn my meniscus.

"It was a hard thing to cope with because we started off really well. I just knew my goals that I'd set out and I just knew that was going to be a situation with me moving forward. I had my surgery and I had the right people around me... my parents, my family. Good rehab, Broncs, the boys there, stuck with me and were good with me. 

"We didn't go to well throughout the whole year, the Broncs. I wish we didn't have that COVID break and we kept our momentum from Round 1 and Round 2, with the boys we had there and the staff. We had a good crew there. But it is what it is.

"I did my ankle in my last game against Parramatta Eels. It was the second last game of the season and I had surgery on my ankle. For me, it just wasn't my year."

Fifita said watching Origin from the sideline late in the year also heightened his will to succeed this year. 

"To not be a part of the winning series, and getting a taste of it the year before, I just wanted to be a part of it... I wish I was there," Fifita said.

"I know there were a few other boys out too, but it was good to see a young crew - pretty much a similar age group to myself - go so well. 

"To see not just the 17, but the whole squad, the big squad, all combine and get the result was good because on paper, New South Wales was stacked. 

"Just from watching outside in, everyone knew their role, and Wayne obviously did a great job. Wayne, Mal and all of the staff around them. For me, I just want to be a part of that this year."

Fifita said after plenty of rehab and a hard pre-season, he was fit and firing. 

"We'll be right... we just need to keep training hard," Fifita said.

"I'm happy. There's a good crew. Me and Tino go way back to junior footy, there's Moeaki, AJ Brimson, Tanah Boyd... all Keebra boys... Alofi Khan-Pereira, the younger lad coming up through the ranks. The whole squad has the balance with the older heads and younger heads.

"Jarrod Wallace there keeps us young forwards in shape. Keeps us motivated at training. KP, Kevin Proctor, he's really good with all of us young lads. But for me, myself, I'm just really looking forward to ripping in and hopefully being in the 17."