NSW Origin coaching legend Phil Gould encourages Blues to target ‘weak link’ David Fifita
NSW Origin coaching legend Phil Gould encourages Blues to target ‘weak link’ David Fifita ahead of series opener against Maroons
- Phil Gould predicts NSW will target ‘weak link’ David Fifita
- Backrower from Queensland is not known for his defense
- Series opener is in Adelaide on Wednesday, May 31
NSW Origin coaching legend Phil Gould has no doubt the Blues will target ‘weak link’ David Fifita in the series opener, pointing to the Queensland backrower’s questionable defensive stance.
Fifita, 23, is a damaging ball runner but has not realized his potential in the eyes of many footy fans due to his tendency to avoid tackling when fatigued.
While acknowledging that defense is one area of Fifita’s game that has improved at club level with the Titans this season, Gould – the most successful coach for NSW in Origin history with four series wins – expects the Maroons’ backrower to have a busy game. to have.
“He’s going to be asked to do a lot of work, so he’s going to have to do it every game, every minute for the full 80 minutes and maybe longer,” he told Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus. podcast.
These players have nowhere to hide. You take a lazy step, you don’t make up right away, the ball just comes back to you, it just finds you.
NSW Origin coaching legend Phil Gould has no doubt the Blues will target David Fifita in the series opener due to his questionable defensive stance
Gould stated that if Fifita cut corners at Origin level under fatigue, NSW will expose him
‘You play against the best players, so if there’s a crack in his [Fifita’s] armor, they will find you.
“No player will want to be the weak link in his team.”
Gould added that Fifita – who was recalled by coach Billy Slater after being overlooked in 2022 – “may score three tries” but expects NSW to “wear him out trying to get the juice out of his running game”.
Fifita will likely mark either Cameron Murray or Hudson Young, both of whom are known for their ironman-esque performances and range of effort.
And Gould also had an ominous message for Fifita – it’s not the stage that leaves much to be desired for your state.
“When you come in to play number 12 for the Queensland State of Origin team, they expect you to go from start to finish and do it on both sides of the ball… the balance in the back,” he said.
“You just can’t click your fingers and let it happen. “There’s a lot of work you have to do and a lot of work you don’t get credit for.
‘And [in David’s case] you just have to be there. He certainly doesn’t have that in his game at the moment.’
The Origin series opener is May 31 in Adelaide.