It has been a relatively quiet start to the 2022 season for Gold Coast Titans star David Fifita.
Following a stellar campaign last season, some questions have been raised regarding a lack of involvement on the field this year.
The powerful second-rower has displayed bursts of strength and mobility, but only has two tries from six appearances.
However, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has come to the 22-year-old's defence, stressing that the team needs to do more to ensure to the ball is in his hands more consistently.
"I think it's hard to get the ball to [Fifita] when we're not completing [sets] as a team," Fa'asuamaleaui said.
"Everyone's saying that he needs to get involved and all that ... but we're making a lot of errors. So that doesn't help.
"But in that second half last week, when we do complete [sets] ... and when he does get the ball, you can just see what it does.
"So, as a team, we've got to complete [sets] and limit [those] errors, and make sure that everyone gets the ball, especially him."
The Titans captain also addressed his team's inconsistency so far this season, notably their knack of struggling in the first half before turning it around in the second half.
"We've just got to start well and have that mentality where we're not going to let any tries in," he said.
"And as a team, making sure that we're running hard and tackling harder.
"We're not far off [the bigger teams], we've just got to get the little details right.
"They're the little things that good teams are getting right and we're not at the moment.
"But that's what training is for."
✈️ media with Tino pic.twitter.com/zmVY5a8PWh
— Gold Coast Titans (@GCTitans) April 21, 2022
A trip to Townsville to play the Cowboys is the Titans' next challenge, in what is expected to be a closely fought contest.
Fa'asuamaleaui knows it won't be an easy match-up, but explained that his side has done their homework on enforcer Jason Taumalolo.
"[The Cowboys] have been playing some good footy and they're going to come out firing, especially at home," he said.
"We've just got to go up there and know that we have to do a job and make sure we turn up ready to go.
"[Taumalolo] is always mentioned - he's always a beast.
"We've just got to get into him early and make sure he doesn't get those run metres up. That's our job in the middle."
