Brisbane Broncos in box seat to sign David Fifita on short-term deal
The Broncos could be set to keep one of their young guns by offering a quirky deal which would enable both parties to catch their breath before a longer contract is discussed.
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The Broncos are growing confident they will re-sign young champion David Fifita on a short-term deal in the huge coup needed to stabilise the embattled NRL club.
Fifita, 20, is scheduled to return from a knee injury in the next few weeks.
He has been offered a huge five-year deal by the Gold Coast Titans, whose own stocks have risen after they trounced the Broncos 30-12 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
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However, while the signing race is far from over, the Broncos appear to be in the box seat with a quirky one-year deal which would enable both parties to catch their breath before a longer contract is discussed for 2022 and beyond.
The Broncos are aware of a management issue with Fifita, whose arrangement with player agent Steve Deacon expires in December.
Because of complications with this issue, Fifita is unlikely to commit to a long-term deal if he stays in Brisbane, but that would buy the Broncos time to sort out their salary cap for a bigger offer down the track.
It may also be a bonus for Fifita because he could assess the future of the Broncos and Titans next season before making a call on his next contract.
Club great Wally Lewis laments the lack of guidance for the club’s young forwards, who have been badly exposed by the new rules which enhance fast play and reward agile thinking.
“There aren’t a lot of players there providing a lot of guidance for the inexperienced players and that’s where the question has to be answered,” Lewis said.
“We’ve got a whole bunch of young kids that need to be tutored on the field by the more experienced players and that’s just not happening.”
With under-fire half Anthony Milford on the brink of being axed, Lewis has challenged the 25-year-old to take on the line.
“Milf just needs to run the ball – he’s the million-dollar man,” Lewis said.
“He started off Saturday night with a couple of early runs but that disappeared quickly.
“Anyone that gets paid the money that he does, the leading players of a Broncos team are expected to produce their best week in, week out.
“I don’t hear what the coach says but he appears to be producing his best with advice given to all the players.
“Just from watching, it looks like he’s spending plenty of time with them. It’s up to the players to produce it and that ain’t happening.”