‘She has sacrificed a lot for me’: David Fifita reveals real reason for remaining with Gold Coast Titans
Titans superstar David Fifita has admitted his decision to renege on a four-year, $3.4 million deal with the Roosters last year was multi-faceted. But it was unconditional love that swayed his decision to stay on the Gold Coast. WATCH THE VIDEO
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A “dangerous” David Fifita has opened up about his decision to renege on the Roosters and revealed how love — not money — convinced him to stay loyal in a bid to deliver a maiden Titans premiership.
In his first public interview since his Bondi bombshell last May, Fifita hopes there is no bad blood with the Roosters and says his partner, NRLW star Shaylee Bent, was a decisive factor in his Titanic backflip.
The former Broncos Academy star also revealed plans to reclaim his Queensland Origin jumper this season and his pact with Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to build a title dynasty on the Gold Coast.
“We all come off-contract next year, so this has to be the year,” Fifita said ahead of the Titans’ season opener against the Bulldogs on Sunday week.
BONDI RESCUE
Fifita shocked the Titans last year when he committed to a four-year, $3.4 million deal with the Roosters, due to commence this season.
The Roosters had staved off interest from premiers Penrith, but billionaire chairman Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson were left stunned when Fifita reneged on the deal, six days after the Bondi coup was made public.
Fifita was pilloried for failing to honour his word, with Channel 9 heavyweight and Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould, one of the code’s most powerful figures, claiming the Roosters had “dodged a bullet”.
But Fifita has no regrets and believes he ultimately made the right call by staying on the Glitter Strip. The decision, he says, was multi-faceted, including being close to his father, with whom he is re-connecting after Fifita Sr’s stint in jail.
During his time behind bars, Siaosi Fifita missed his son’s Queensland Origin debut in 2019. The Titans forward says he couldn’t bring himself to leave his family by moving to Sydney.
“Having my family around, my mum, dad and nan, being close to them (was a reason for staying at the Titans),” Fifita said.
“They are getting older and I wanted to be around them and look after them.”
Asked if there are any hard feelings with the Roosters, Fifita said: “No, I’m happy I’m here now. It is what it is.
“That’s all done now, that was last year and for myself I am looking forward to playing great footy for the Titans and putting on their jersey.
“I’m excited for this year with the squad we have and hopefully we all stay injury-free for the year ahead.”
Fifita is no stranger to major contract bunfights.
In 2020, he quit the Broncos to become a $1 million player at the Titans, admitting contract negotiations - and being a man in demand - can impose pressure to make the right decision.
“For sure,” he said. “Every time that time (being off-contract) comes around, I seem to be front and centre.
“It can be a distraction sometimes, but I have a good partner and my manager and my parents who keep me level-headed.
“I’m happy that I’m here now.”
THE X-FACTOR
Fifita’s passion for family has been well-documented but it was his love for Bent that emphatically closed the door on a move to the Roosters.
Bent, who made her NRLW debut for the Dragons in 2019, moved to Queensland to play for the Titans in 2023 when she began dating Fifita the previous year.
Like Fifita, Bent was a player with options. Australia’s World Cup forward was tipped to follow Fifita because of her links to Sydney as a Penrith junior.
But Fifita says the couple wanted to continue their relationship, revealing he asked Bent to remain on the Gold Coast.
“It was massive for her to stay here,” he said.
“She has sacrificed a lot for me.
“She could have gone down to Sydney, but I wanted her to stay.
“She cooks for me and does a lot for me. She looks after me and does all the right things. When I’m down with my injuries, she looks after me.
“It’s hard when you get injured, but she and my mum and dad are there for me.”
Bent said of Fifita last year: “It’s the same with David, (the Gold Coast) is our home now. We love the community, we love the fans, we love the club and we love our teams.
“We’ve built a life up there so we’re really happy.”
Fifita celebrated his 25th birthday last week and the Titans back-rower described Bent as the emotional rock who has helped him through some injury struggles.
“She’s a good cook, my favourite is coconut curry and rice, but she cooks anything,” he said with a laugh.
“We just got a coffee machine for my birthday so she even makes my coffees now. I’m still learning.
“She has done the back of her shoulder, but she is coming good now. She still gets a bit of pain but we’re both supportive of each other.
“She’s great for me.”
THE LEGACY
Fifita is off-contract at the end of next year and the Titans hulk is learning how quickly time passes in the NRL.
Once a baby-faced wrecking ball at the Broncos, the 126-game veteran is entering his eighth NRL season and, if he stays fit, Fifita will chalk up his 100th match for the Titans this season.
Maligned for the best part of almost two decades, the Titans are desperate to snap an 18-year premiership hoodoo and Fifita wants to deliver Gold Coast’s maiden NRL title.
“I have two more years here and we have to win,” said Fifita, who has played 82 games as a Titan.
Asked if he wants to keep Fa'asuamaleaui and boom halves AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell together at the club, Fifita said: “For sure. Time will tell.
“I just believe in the players we have here. We have been around this group for a while now.
“I have been signed here since 2021 and I’m 25 now, so I’m getting a bit older.
“We will see what happens (with the squad). A lot can change in 12 months. We have a tough first game against the Bulldogs in two weeks and I’m looking forward to that.
“We have stayed around this core group for a while now and hopefully this is the year.”
STATE OF ORIGIN
Fifita has amassed eight State of Origin games in three separate series for Queensland, but was controversially overlooked by Maroons coach Billy Slater last season.
On the comeback trail from off-season ankle surgery, Fifita looks in supreme physical condition. He currently tips the scales at 115kg and concedes he needs to find more consistency this season to win an Origin recall under Slater.
“I have to earn it,” he said.
Asked if the code has seen the best of him, he said: “I’m not sure. I turned 25 six days ago so I’m getting old.
“It’s all up to me.
“I need to be injury-free and have a good mindset.
“When I am happy, I am dangerous.
“I didn’t earn it (a Queensland jumper) last year so it starts next in two weeks against the Bulldogs.
“There’s good candidates for that back-row role. Whatever it is, I’m back in.”
THE COACH
There was a view Fifita would struggle to adapt to the relentless coaching methods of Des Hasler, a two-time premiership-winning mentor at Manly.
But behind the scenes, Fifita is a football student. Titans teammates are blown away by an attention to detail bordering on perfectionism. Fifita says he is embracing Hasler’s desire to extract the best of every player at the Titans.
“The first year (last year), just knowing him (Hasler) is very different from all the other coaches I’ve had in the past,” Fifita said.
“This year I am getting to know Des more and learning off him. He drives us to high standards and for myself, I am trying to repay the faith and trust that Des has given me. I am learning from him.
“It’s been tough for myself. I had a hiccup at the end of last year, I had ankle surgery.
“Injuries can be frustrating and this one has been my toughest.
“Usually I overcome it pretty easy but this one has been hanging around. I have good physios around me and a good partner at home and family who keep me level headed.
“It (his ankle) is coming along good now.
“I have some more tough sessions coming up and I will rip in next week against the Bulldogs.”
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