David Fifita has claimed he is the most unfairly judged forward in the NRL as the South Sydney back-rower looks to silence the critics who have followed his career by claiming a World Cup medal.
Fifita’s form, hunger and effort have been questioned throughout his eight years in the top grade, headlined by the $1.2 million-per-season contract he signed with Gold Coast as a 20-year-old in 2021.
Fifita, who has been consistently overlooked by Queensland selectors in recent years, split with the Titans at the end of the 2025 season before signing with Souths.
His 2026 form at the Rabbitohs was some of the most consistent of his career, with the 26-year-old earning a call-up to Australia’s World Cup squad.
“Peeople can say what they want to say,” Fifita said from Kangaroos camp.
“I think I just get the most criticism out of every second-rower in the game. I don't know - you look at the stats, the stats don't lie. That's where I'm at.
“You see it yourself in the comments and all that. Judge me like every other second-rower and judge me at the same time and be the judge of all the second-rowers.
“I think they just want the big play. But you can't do it every game, but people don't understand that.”
Fifita said the reason for finding more consistent form was his move to Souths under Wayne Bennett, who handed him his NRL debut with Brisbane as a teenager.
“To be here with him, he understands me,” Fifita said.
“I love being coached by him because he makes you feel comfortable around him. He's a Queenslander, I'm a Queenslander. I wouldn't have gone to Souths if he wasn't there.”
Fifita missed out on a spot in Kevin Walters’ squad for Sunday’s semi-final with Samoa at Allianz Stadium.
However, he has his fingers crossed he can force his way into Walters' thinking for a potential final, where Fifita hopes to come face to face with Tonga.
Fifita played for Tonga at the last World Cup and said: “It was very hard to pick, but I've never represented the Aussies, so that's why I've represented Tonga.
“I want to represent both my cultures while I'm still playing in the NRL, so to get to do that means so much to me.”
