Wantaway Titans superstar David Fifita is all set to take up a four-year deal tabled by the Sydney Roosters, after everything was basically signed, sealed, and delivered with the Panthers.
Yesterday, Penrith’s star power—in particular, the Ivan and Nathan Cleary combo—looked to have got the club’s huge Fifita play over the line.
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Instead, Fifita is now on the verge of signing a four-year deal with Sydney that will see him join the tricolours in 2025. He has already turned down the final two optional years of his Gold Coast contract.
The Queenslander second rower’s change of heart means he’ll now sign on the dotted line to earn around $825,000 a season through to the end of the 2028 campaign. The Panthers would have paid him around $850,000 a year for three seasons, while the Titans were on the hook to pay him an estimated $2 million between 2025 and 2026.
The Sporting Base understands Penrith will pivot to Angus Crichton as their top target.
Cleary and the Panthers were very eager to sign Fifita as a replacement for James Fisher-Harris in the pack—not exactly like-for-like, but it regards to star power—but the three-time reigning champions at the foot of the mountain are also very happy to change their focus to the 28-year-old Blues representative if the Roosters don’t want to keep him.
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Eyes now also turn to Fifita’s long-term partner, Shaylee Bent, who has been signed with the Titans up to his season and could easily move to join the Roosters for the 2024 NRLW campaign.
