The Gold Coast’s marquee man, David Fifita, is mulling a move to rugby league central with the Roosters and Penrith emerging as his most likely destinations. There are cases to be made for both options – as well as for remaining with the Titans.
The case for Penrith
If David Fifita’s motivation is to win a premiership, there is only one choice.
Penrith have won the past three competitions and the bookmakers have installed them as favourites to extend that streak to four. With Fifita in their side – even factoring in the impending losses of James Fisher-Harris and Jarome Luai – their premiership window remains very much open.
On Sunday, coach Ivan Cleary and Fifita held what is often referred to in rugby league as a secret meeting (the type everyone finds out about). We can only speculate as to what the pitch was, but part of it was likely about unburdening Fifita of the pressure of being the main man.
At the Titans, Fifita carries the responsibility of being one of the club’s highest-paid stars, a heavy load for a player not even part of Des Hasler’s spine. If he joins the premiers, it is a responsibility shared among more than half-a-dozen marquee men including Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Moses Leota. Fifita would become just another important cog in a well-oiled machine.
While the move would require a salary sacrifice, it would leave Fifita far from destitute. The Maroons prop stands to earn $850,000 per season at Penrith, still a handsome sum and a fairer reflection of what a strike back-rower is really worth. Whatever cash he leaves on the table is a small price to pay for success.
The case for the Roosters
Imagine living on the water in Bondi, playing for a footy team that is likely to be a genuine premiership contender, and getting paid a shedload to do so.
It is the ultimate league lifestyle, made possible by the Roosters having money to burn.
David Fifita is a man in demand.Credit: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
The Tricolours have cash to splash: about $4 million due to the pending departures of Joseph Suaalii, Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary. They are prepared to allocate $3.3 million over four years to Fifita, more than the Panthers are capable of paying.
Then there’s the chance to play under premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson, alongside some of the best players in the game. The club’s galaxy of stars includes James Tedesco, Sam Walker, Lindsay Collins, Victor Radley, Brandon Smith, Dominic Young and Spencer Leniu, to name a few. Undoubtedly, others will also be recruited. Again, there will be less focus on Fifita than if he opted to stay put.
A move to the Roosters would also reunite Fifita with assistant Justin Holbrook: the pair were so close that the star forward had get-out clauses in his contract tied to the former Titans coach.
Perhaps the most intangible advantage of heading to the eastern suburbs are the opportunities provided off the field. Chairman Nick Politis oversees one of the best-connected boards in Australia. A rugby league career is relatively short and the chance to tap into those networking opportunities for what comes afterwards is priceless. There’s a reason why Politis almost always gets his man.
The case for staying put
From a purely footballing perspective, this one is the toughest sell. The Gold Coast currently sit in equal last spot, above only the embattled Rabbitohs on for-and-against.
However, there has been evidence over the past month that the rebuild under Des Hasler is bearing fruit. While the Titans have won only one game this season, they were a smidgen away from winning their past four. There are clear signs of improvement despite the absence of inspirational captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who will return from injury next year.
There are other factors to consider. Fifita’s partner, Shaylee Bent, also plays for the Titans. What would a Fifita move to Sydney mean for her?
And then, of course, there’s the money. Fifita will earn more if he stays put. What’s more, if he does so and helps the Gold Coast finally become a genuine footballing force, he will leave a greater legacy than if he joined perennial winners Penrith or the Roosters.
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