David Fifita has played his first Queensland Cup match since 2018 after being dropped from the Gold Coast Titans' NRL side.
On Sunday, the forward lined up for the Ipswich Jets as they suffered a 32-0 loss to the Northern Pride.
Fifita played all 80 minutes in the second row, recording 58 metres off nine runs.
Despite these underwhelming figures, the 25-year-old was sound defensively, making 20 tackles and missing none.
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He also had three tackle breaks and one error.
"We had no ball and no chance in the match, but David's attitude was great and defensively he couldn't be faulted," Jets chairman Steve Johnson said, via AAP.
The Titans star, who reportedly earns $1,000,000 a season, has had an inconsistent campaign to date.
He has been used off the bench in four of six NRL matches in 2025, scoring one try.
Coach Hasler then opted to drop him for Magic Round.
"I’m not going to whinge about it," Fifita told News Corp following his axing.
"I love playing football, I’ve done the captain’s run and the Jets are a great club so I will put on the Jets jersey and represent them the best I can.
"I’ll be giving 100 per cent. It is what it is. I’m just excited to play with some of these lads, I know a few guys from the Titans so I’ll play the best I can for the guys.
"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.
"There is so much speculation, but I’m playing for Ipswich and I’ll be cheering on the Titans boys as well. I hope they win."
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Hasler addressed the controversial decision to demote the former Queensland Origin representative.
"David ... there were just some areas that we wanted him to look at to work on, and some thinking along those lines," the veteran coach said.
The Titans will face Newcastle next week as they look to snap a five-match losing streak.
Hasler will "review" whether or not Fifita has earned a recall for the game.