Fifita nearing full fitness after rib issue limits impact

Titans forward David Fifita doesn't expect to be targeted by returning Roosters forwards Victory Radley and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on Saturday night despite battling a rib injury.

Fifita revealed he has been nursing a rib cartilage injury for the past month after copping a hit against the Cowboys in round 21.    

The pain-managing injury came two weeks into his switch to a bench role, with Justin Holbrook's decision to shift him to the interchange and play him under reduced minutes since round 19.

"I hurt it way back in the Cowboys game and then played with it against Souths and it got worse but I carried on," Fifita said on Tuesday.

"It's getting better, I just needle it up and it's sweet. You know rib cartilage [injuries], they're pretty painful.

"It's just the movement but it's fine now. The staff do a good job of monitoring me throughout the week and then get me needled up on game day."

Asked if he would be a target for the Roosters forward pack given his niggling injury, Fifita added "it's all good I don't mind, they can do whatever".

Fifita was all smiles along with his Titans teammates at training as the side began preparations following their last-minute dash to the finals on Sunday.

After hitting rock bottom with the wooden spoon in 2019, Fifita said the turnaround under Holbrook in recent years had been a credit to the club.

"For myself, first year down here to be a part of it, I'm looking forward to it," he said of the finals campaign.

"This is where we wanted to be and we're here. We're in the top eight, from here on in we have to win every game.

"We're worrying about the Roosters this week. If you watched the game last time we played them we lost by a point.

"They've been the benchmark for a couple of years. It's going to be a tough game but our boys in the middle will do a good job."

Fifita showed glimpses of his own strong form in last week's comfortable win over the Warriors and remained content in sticking with Holbrook's plan to bring him off the bench this week.

"It's good hey, I guess it's something new for myself. Justin keeps it simple for me and I go out there and play footy," he said.

"Eventually I want to start but it's what's best for the team if we're getting the wins.

"Beau Fermor and Kevie [Proctor] on the edges there are doing a good job."

Veteran forward Jarrod Wallace, who hasn't missed a game all season, said he felt "25 again" at training this week after playing his part to get the Titans back into the finals.

"It's a whole different season now," Wallace said.

"Everyone is really buzzing. It's obviously been a while since a lot of us have played finals. Now it's all or nothing. It means everything to me. I've seen the lowest of lows at this club.

"To see the boys get the reward for working hard this year, I just want them to enjoy the week."