{"id":391462,"date":"2024-05-07T03:27:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T03:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=391462"},"modified":"2024-05-07T05:04:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T05:04:57","slug":"fifita-feeding-frenzy-to-tip-nrl-market-on-its-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=391462","title":{"rendered":"Fifita 'feeding frenzy' to tip NRL market on its head"},"content":{"rendered":"

A potential million-dollar player has hit the NRL<\/a> market and – predictably – it has sparked a circus this week.<\/p>\n

David Fifita<\/a> flew south to Sydney on Sunday and reportedly held meetings with both the Panthers and Roosters to discuss his future<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some reports claim St George Illawarra \ufeffis also interested in speaking to the State of Origin backrower, while Gold Coast<\/a> wants to keep him on the glitter strip.<\/p>\n

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Fifita supposedly has until Thursday night to tell the Titans whether he \ufeffplans on activating a contract clause for 2025, which would earn him about $1 million.<\/p>\n

"\ufeffThere aren't many marquee players like this on the market, so when someone becomes available you're going to get a bit of a feeding frenzy," Canterbury football boss Phil Gould said on Nine's 100% Footy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

"\ufeffI know, (after) speaking to his manager today, that he is confused. He's got a lot of good options on the table.<\/p>\n

"He wants \ufeffto better himself as a footballer, he wants to win premierships… that probably cancels out a few of the (offers) along the way."<\/p>\n

Here are the burning questions as the 24-year-old weighs up his options:<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

WHY WOULD HE LEAVE THE TITANS?\ufeff<\/h3>\n

Fifita was one of the most talked-about young stars in the NRL when he signed a deal with Gold Coast worth a whopping $1.25 million a season\ufeff in 2020.<\/p>\n

After a couple of disappointing years his salary was reduced, although the Titans are still prepared to pay more for his services than most rival clubs.<\/p>\n

If his decision comes down to dollars and cents alone, he would stick with Gold Coast.<\/p>\n

But, simply put, the Titans are a long way off being a premiership contender.<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe club has played one final since Fifita came on board, and finished 13th and 14th the past two years. They've played only one other finals game since 2010.<\/p>\n

The arrival of Des Hasler as coach this season was meant to spark a turnaround \ufeffbut they've lost eight of their first nine games.<\/p>\n

He should be entering the golden years of his career and his next contract could determine whether he wins an elusive premiership ring or not.\ufeff<\/p>\n

WHAT IS HE WORTH ON THE OPEN MARKET?<\/h3>\n

While Gold Coast is prepared to pay $1 million to keep Fifita in 2025, Paul Gallen wrote for Wide World of Sports this week the backrower is not worth that much<\/a> to a stronger club.<\/p>\n

\ufeffNine's Danny Weidler believes the Roosters are prepared to offer a four-year contract worth about $3.4m, while Penrith has reportedly tabled a three-season deal.<\/p>\n

While Fifita was once the most damaging backrower in the game and has represented Queensland and Australia, his club form in recent seasons has left much to be desired.<\/p>\n

If anyone was to pay close to a million dollars a year for his services, they would expect him to be winning games for them on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

WHY WOULD HE JOIN THE PANTHERS?<\/h3>\n

Penrith has cash to splash after representative prop James Fisher-Harris was given an early release to pack his bags and head across the ditch at season's end. They are also losing five-eighth Jarome Luai.<\/p>\n

\ufeffIt's been suggested Fifita could fill the Fisher-Harris gap in the roster but Paul Gallen – who spent a decade and a half playing in the middle – can't cop that suggestion.<\/p>\n

"He's a talent, he's a beast, but he's not a front-rower. I can't imagine them signing him as a front-rower," Gallen told 100% Footy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

"\ufeffThe Panthers could maybe move Liam Martin to the middle, the Roosters maybe move Angus Crichton to the middle if he stayed.<\/p>\n

"I don't see (Fifita) as a front-rower, I don't think he would see himself as a front-rower."<\/p>\n

The benefit of joining Penrith is, of course, the club's proven recent record of success.<\/p>\n

The Panthers have won the last three grand finals despite losing some top-line talent after each one.<\/p>\n

\ufeffTheir pursuit of Fifita is out of character given the club has preferred to bring junior players through.<\/p>\n

"Panthers haven't done \ufeffthis for a long time, they haven't had to do this for a long time," Gould said.<\/p>\n

"This will be the first time in a long time they've jumped out of the crease and bought\ufeff a player for big money… they must value him highly."<\/p>\n

WHY WOULD HE JOIN THE ROOSTERS?<\/h3>\n

Similar to the Panthers, the Roosters are a bona fide NRL powerhouse who have three premierships to their name in the last 11 years.<\/p>\n

\ufeffThey also have bucket loads of cash to spare under the salary cap from next season onwards.<\/p>\n

Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves are retiring, Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu are heading to rugby, and the futures of Daniel Tupou and Angus Crichton remain up in the air.<\/p>\n

Reports claim the Chooks could have upwards of $4m to play around with – easily enough to lure Fifita to Bondi.<\/p>\n

\"Cleary<\/p>\n

\ufeffIf Crichton does pack his bags and leave, Fifita would be a ready-made replacement on an edge.<\/p>\n

It would also partner him with young halfback Sam Walker – a combination that will no doubt be formed for Queensland at some stage too.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"It sounds like a Roosters buy, doesn't it?\ufeff A high profile player for a lot of money," Gould remarked on 100% Footy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

HOW WILL HE IMPACT THE NRL TITLE RACE?<\/h3>\n

The Panthers and Roosters are expected to challenge for this year's NRL premiership.<\/p>\n

And while both sides are losing quality players next year, \ufeffthe addition of Fifita to either line-up is a mouthwatering prospect.<\/p>\n

Nathan Cleary is the best halfback in the game and a backrower like Fifita running off him would strike fear into the hearts of opposition teams.<\/p>\n

It would be akin to when Viliame Kikau was running riot for Penrith.<\/p>\n

And across the city on Sydney's beaches, \ufeffFifita could form a similar bond with the aforementioned whizkid Walker.<\/p>\n

Middle men are important and backs get all the glory, but backrowers are underrated in terms of impact on a game.<\/p>\n

Fifita can be the best in the business on his day, and his arrival at either Bondi or the foot of the mountains \ufeffcould instantly turn that team into a title favourite.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A potential million-dollar player has hit the NRL market and – predictably – it has sparked a circus this week. David Fifita flew south to […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":391184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391462"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=391462"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":391467,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391462\/revisions\/391467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/391184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=391462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=391462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=391462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}