David Fifita: Gold Coast Titans’ $1.25m contract the richest deal in NRL history
Anthony Seibold has revealed David Fifita phoned him to say he would be staying at the Broncos — but the Titans have played their final trump card and it may be an offer the 20-year-old can’t refuse.
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Titans culture boss Mal Meninga has tabled a stunning $1.25 million contract in a last-ditch bid to poach David Fifita from the Brisbane Broncos and make him the joint highest-paid player in NRL history.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Fifita contract saga has taken a dramatic twist with Meninga having one last crack at the superstar back-rower after he initially quit the Broncos, then sensationally backflipped.
In a dramatic 24 hours, the off-contract Fifita contacted Broncos coach Anthony Seibold on Tuesday night to advise him he would be joining the Gold Coast next season on a monster $1.1 million contract.
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When he woke the following morning, the 20-year-old had a change of heart, advising Seibold and Broncos hierarchy he would stay on a $700,000 deal after Brisbane refused to enter a bidding war.
But when Fifita called Titans coach Justin Holbrook yesterday morning to confirm he is staying at Brisbane, Meninga refused to accept defeat, raising the stakes with a head-spinning $1.25 million offer.
That is the current value of the NRL’s highest-paid player, Queensland Origin skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
With Fifita torn again, the battle is far from over, with his mother Gwen revealing her son’s emotional torment as he decides whether to formally sign with Brisbane this week — or take a million-dollar leap of faith with the Titans.
“It’s been hard for myself and Dave to sleep, it’s such a big decision for him,” Gwen Fifita said.
“On Tuesday Dave had told Anthony (Seibold) that he would be going to the Titans and then he called him the next day to say he would be staying.
“I’m pretty confident he will stay with Brisbane because that’s what he had decided, but nothing is certain until we sign that piece of paper (a contract).
“The specialist has cleared Dave to play next week so he wants to make his decision by then.
“The deal the Titans have offered Dave is life-changing. The Broncos are a great club. It’s a really tough call.”
Seibold is confident the Broncos can keep the Titans at bay, despite Fifita facing a massive $525,000 sacrifice by remaining at Red Hill.
“David informed me (on Wednesday morning) that he is staying,” Seibold said.
“That was my last communication with David.
“We have given him the best offer we can.
“Of course we want to keep him, he’s highly valued here and all I know is what Dave has told me.”
Amid the Titans’ club record offer, Fifita is unsure what to do and the private machinations over the past 24 hours have the Broncos on edge about losing their best back-row prospect in 20 years.
A critical factor in Fifita’s decision-making in his desire to pay off a house for Gwen, who is playing an active role in negotiations.
Fifita has told the Broncos it is his life’s ambition to buy a house for his mum and the Titans deal would inch him closer to that goal. But the Broncos have pointed out that a $700,000 deal is hardly small fry and will enable him to look after his family while playing at the NRL’s richest club alongside his best mate Payne Haas.
The Broncos are playing hardball with the Maroons ace.
Brisbane‘s recruitment-and-retention committee met on Tuesday where they agreed the club would not offer more than $700,000 — effectively a take-it-or-leave-it stance that was conveyed to Fifita.
Like Fifita, Broncos bosses are in a state of confusion. They have told Fifita they have done everything they can, but if the decision is purely based on money, they simply can’t compete with the Titans’ massive offer.
The Titans have discussed a five-year deal with Fifita but due to his management dispute with agent Steve Deacon, the Broncos forward will agree to only a 12-month term before severing ties with Deacon.
In another key twist yesterday, Fifita’s teammate Tesi Niu has finalised a 12-month deal with the Broncos - rejecting almost twice as much money to go to the Titans next season.
The Broncos remain hopeful Fifita will follow Niu’s lead and take less to stay.