Old Golds great Fifita set son on path to Origin

Jojo Fifita has always had maroon in his blood.

The Gold Coast Titans winger will make his debut for Queensland in game one of the annual State of Origin series against New South Wales in Sydney tomorrow night.

But while he is a true-blue Aussie now, Fifita has plenty of fans on this side of the Tasman — and his surname is rugby royalty in North Otago.

The 23-year-old star was christened Sosefa Fifita when he was born in Dunedin.

He is the son of Pila Fifita, a North Otago rugby great.

Fifita senior was a blockbusting winger who scored a record 39 tries in maroon and gold between 2000 and 2004 and also represented Tonga before playing in England and Japan.

Jojo spent most of his childhood in Japan before the Fifita family settled on the Gold Coast, where the old man was still running around on a rugby field into his 40s.

His son attended rugby powerhouse The Southport School, former home of Kangaroos-Wallabies dual international Mat Rogers, and was a Queensland Reds junior, but chose to concentrate on a league career.

That decision sure paid off.

Jojo made his Titans debut at 19 — there was a wonderfully emotional video that circulated of him being presented his first NRL jersey by his father and mum, Amy — and now has 32 tries in 68 games for the Gold Coast club.

The 184cm, 104kg athlete’s form at both wing and centre has led to a first Origin call-up.

Jojo credited his dad for encouraging him into league when the time came to make a call over which code to pursue.

``I was with the juniors with the Reds and I was going to sign with the Melbourne Rebels,'' he said at a pre-Origin media conference.

``The rugby union bloke told me to go with league.''

While Jojo had ambitions of playing for the Wallabies, his father felt league was a better fit.

``He played a little bit of (league) when he was younger and loved the challenge. He knew I would love the challenge as well.

``It was a tough decision at first. I wasn't sure if I was making the right choice after growing up in union.

``Looking back now, it was probably the best decision I have made. I am forever grateful to the Titans for picking me up and putting that faith in me.''

Jojo might call Australia home now but he revealed his childhood heroes were All Blacks Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Richie McCaw.