Queensland coach Billy Slater announced David Fifita had not met the standards required to earn selection.
Jeremiah Nanai has vowed to reward the faith Maroons coach Billy Slater has shown in him with a breakout State of Origin campaign, which has come at the expense of Gold Coast wrecking ball David Fifita.
Meanwhile, Nanai has recaptured the try-scoring form that made him a rookie revelation with the Cowboys. The 21-year-old – who has crossed the white stripe seven times in his past five appearances for North Queensland – said knowing Fifita would be salivating at the prospect of reclaiming his Maroons’ jumper was enough incentive to produce a career-best showing.“I’m very honoured and grateful to get that call-up from Billy, and that he knows he can trust me in the starting backrow,” Nanai said.
“I had a slow start I’ll say, but I’m starting to find my feet again, and I’m still working on a few things … but I feel confident, and I’m feeling good finding my form again.”For instance, while Fifita boasts more run metres a game, nine linebreak assists and a higher tackle efficiency than the men who garnered selection, his play-the-ball speed, at 3.94 seconds, pales in comparison to that of Su’a’s 3.34 seconds and Nanai’s 3.52 seconds.
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