'It's like there's a zero care factor': Feud rumours emerge as David Fifita flops in reserve grade

Gold Coast coach Des Hasler refused to speculate on the immediate playing future of dumped $1 million forward David Fifita as rumours of a feud between the pair emerged.

Fifita was sensationally dropped from the NRL team last week in the latest twist to his tumultuous Titans career.

The 25-year-old was on the verge of leaving the club last year and signing with the Roosters, before backflipping to remain on the glitter strip. It followed his mysterious Origin snub from Queensland coach Billy Slater.

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The Titans were laughed at for bending to the backrower's will and still handing him a $1m-per-season contract despite his wildly inconsistent form and his obvious desire to leave.

He went back to reserve grade at the weekend and put forward an underwhelming performance, registering just 58 metres from nine runs in a 32-0 loss for Ipswich.

Fifita gave a rare interview to News Corp in which he hinted there was more behind his axing than purely form.

"There is a reason for why this has happened but the real truth will come out one day. Everyone doesn't know the real story," he said.

Following Gold Coast's loss to Canterbury at Magic Round, Hasler was asked if he will consider bringing Fifita back into the team this week.

"We will have a look post game, he's had to review some areas and he had some thinking to do in some areas," Hasler said.

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"So we will assess that and we will go again... just some areas that we wanted him to look at that he has worked on. Some thinking along those lines.

"We will get through this weekend and then we will review and we will go again, we have a very short turnaround for Newcastle."

Gold Coast faces the Knights on Friday.

Fifita was given a clip by Knights legend Andrew Johns on Nine's The Sunday Footy Show after rumours he fell out with Hasler over the way the coach was using him.

"You play where the coach puts you - you don't answer back to the coach," Johns said.

"He's an enigma, David - who knows how to get the best out of him."

Maroons legend and selector Darren Lockyer is equally baffled how Fifita has fallen so far out of favour.

"The reality is, he's always been the biggest and strongest out on the field," Lockyer said.

"He's always been dominant until he got into the NRL and when talent doesn't have to work hard, you fall into that habit. He just needs to become more mature about how he approaches his game every week.

"You've got to work hard even if you're talented, otherwise it's not gonna last."

Retired NRL hardman Willie Mason aimed both barrels at Fifita in his typically abrasive evaluation.

"What the f--- are you doing, David Fifita? Seriously, he's one of the most destructive forwards in the game," Mason said on his Levels Network podcast.

"There's got to be a happy medium with this kid. You've got so much talent, Fifita, and if you don't live up to it, it will be the biggest regret of your career.

"Des needs to really understand what makes this kid tick. I don't know what makes him tick, but I know when he's on, he is one of the most fearsome, dominant and aggressive back-rowers who has ever played the game.

"It sucks when I see a kid like this be in reserve grade. What are you doing? You should be one of the first picked in Origin … but you're playing reserve grade.

"It's like there's a zero care factor - you need to prioritise rugby league."