David Fifita signs two-year deal with South Sydney Rabbitohs after Gold Coast Titans exit

It’s official. David Fifita has left the Gold Coast and will reunite with Wayne Bennett in South Sydney, a move which could prompt the early release of another Rabbitohs forward.

David Fifita is headed to Sydney with no more tomorrows and the hope that seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett can rediscover rugby league’s Incredible Hulk.

Fifita has to get this move right after five NRL seasons at the Titans of wild variation, from extraordinary YouTube highlight moments to regular shots of the back-rower injured or overlooked and watching from the grandstand.

What made the Rabbitohs pursue Fifita for the next two seasons are three-fold — his age, the price he comes in at, and his potential to rediscover the form that took him all the way to the dizzy heights of State of Origin and Internationals with Australia.

Gone too, is the $1 million price tag that he carried around his neck like a millstone — a ridiculous salary from the Titans management for a back-rower whose involvement is dependent on the quality of attack and his half’s ability to promote the football.

David Fifita’s time at the Titans is over. Picture: NRL Images

We forget quickly in this game also, with Fifita named Dally M back-rower of the year only two years ago.

Remembering too, Fifita is still just 25. By rights, he should be primed to hit his peak as an NRL footballer.

When the Gold Coast formalised the deal on Wednesday, new coach Josh Hannay said Fiifta goes with their blessing, in the honest hope that the damaging ball-runner can find his joy of the game again.

“The club wants to see David happy and playing football and a new opportunity will give him a chance to do that,” Hannay said in a Titans statement.

“The entire club wish him well moving forward.”

Financially, the Titans will carry $500,000 of Fifita’s contract with the Rabbitohs across the next two seasons, hardly an insignificant hit.

If Bennett can reignite Fifita, with his ability to bust tackles, create space for his teammates and score tries from close range, it could prove to be a bargain.

Rabbitohs head of recruitment and retention Mark Ellison said Fifita would be a fantastic addition to the club’s forwards stocks.

Wayne Bennett and David Fifita have a long history. Picture: NRL Photos

“David will provide a new dimension to our forward pack and we are looking forward to seeing him in the red and green,” Ellison said.

“He has shown he has what it takes to dominate NRL matches and can match it with the best at State of Origin and Test Match level.

“He made his NRL debut under Wayne (Bennett) at the Broncos and he has always been regarded as one of the game’s best when he is at his best.

“He will be a fantastic inclusion in our squad going forward and will provide us with a different style of player in our forwards rotation.

“We look forward to having him join us for pre-season training next month.”

Fifita joined the Titans in 2021 and played 90 games in total for the club.

Fifita made his debut for the Brisbane Broncos in 2018 and has gone on to represent Tonga in four Tests, Queensland in eight State of Origin matches and Australia in four matches at the World Cup Nines.

David Fifita is devastating at his best but has been plagued by injuries. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

He also played four games for the Indigenous All Stars, as well as playing for the Prime Minister’s XIII team.

The Titans understand they are letting go a quality footballer, but will attempt to offset Fifita’s anticipated exit by using the salary cap space to retain some of their best talent including Jayden Campbell, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and rising star Cooper Bai.

The finalisation of Fifita’s move to the Rabbitohs also revolves around the Bunnies’ tight top-30 roster.

A domino effect of Fifita’s arrival to Souths is likely to result in the early release of Rabbitohs forward Davvy Moale to Manly.

Moale has a deal for the 2027 season with the Sea Eagles, but Manly are eager to lure the power forward much sooner.

Originally published as David Fifita signs two-year deal with South Sydney Rabbitohs after Gold Coast Titans exit