Hasler dismisses controversy over Fifita’s surprising benching as the club’s $1 million choice attracts more backlash.

The head coach of the Gold Coast Titans, Des Hasler, has dismissed speculation regarding his decision to leave $1 million forward David Fifita sitting on the bench during their recent match against Canterbury on Sunday.

Fifita, a formidable presence in the back row, remained on the interchange for the entire first half at Belmore, with the Titans trailing 22-12 at the break, eventually concluding the match with a 40-24 defeat.

Upon entering the field, Fifita recorded nine runs for 73 metres, along with a tackle break and two offloads.

The sight of him still on the bench as half-time neared sparked numerous questions from fans and commentators alike.

“I thought Dessy might have introduced David Fifita after they scored a couple of tries,” said league legend Steve Roach on Fox League.

“He’s still sitting on the bench there.

“That was the type of moment you’d expect him to be brought on. They seem to be looking to wait until the second half.”

In the post-game media conference, Hasler was questioned about his decision-making.

He didn’t give a direct response but hinted that fitness concerns played a role.

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“It was just about timing his entry into the game, given the interchanges,” Hasler explained.

“I felt when he came on, he brought some impact, but chasing points isn’t always straightforward.

“Also, he’s returning from an interrupted off-season… but he’ll improve with more game time.”

The minimal use of Fifita will undoubtedly reignite discussions surrounding Gold Coast’s decision to re-sign him last year.

Fifita was close to joining the Roosters on an $850,000-a-season deal, having turned down a lucrative extension from Gold Coast.

However, he hesitated, prompting the Roosters to withdraw their offer, which allowed the Titans to step in with a surprising new deal of $1 million per season for 2025 and 2026, even after he had declined their previous offer just a week prior.

This decision will face scrutiny if Hasler continues to limit Fifita’s game time, particularly in matches that are already slipping away.

Hasler opened his press conference on Sunday by expressing frustration over the Titans having a bye in round one.

Gold Coast had the opening week off while the four Las Vegas teams played their matches prior to the Titans’ round two encounter.

“It was frustrating; it really was,” said Hasler regarding the loss on Sunday.

“There have been roughly 17 games of footy played before we even stepped onto the field. I’m not using that as an excuse… but it certainly felt like there’s been a lot of football played before we got our chance.”