David Fifita contract: QLD legends urge young gun to stay at Brisbane Broncos
While the Titans continue to up the ante to get David Fifita to the Gold Coast long term Queenlsand greats are urging the young star to show loyalty and stay in Brisbane.
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Broncos chairman Karl Morris says David Fifita would be taking a risk by joining the struggling Titans as Brisbane legends appealed for the Queensland Origin star to stay loyal to the club.
Fifita will decide his future in the coming days with the back-row superstar keen to close the door on contract talks before his comeback from injury against the Wests Tigers on Friday week.
The Titans are so desperate to poach Fifita they have increased their offer from $1 million to $1.2m in the space of 24 hours, but Morris delivered a subtle uppercut when asked if he is concerned at losing the 20-year-old to the Gold Coast.
“Not really,” Morris said.
“David would understand we might be playing a lot better if he was in the team.
“If he was going to weigh up us versus the Titans in terms of medium-to-long-term career prospects, I knew which club I would pick.”
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Morris‘ comments are a clear reference to Brisbane’s status as the NRL’s richest outfit with a turnover of $52 million, while the Titans are the reigning wooden spooners and the most cash-strapped club in the league.
While the Broncos have salary-cap constraints, the Brisbane chairman assured Fifita the club has big plans for him.
“At the moment, he is out with a knee injury,” Morris said. ”If the Titans pay a million bucks, is that money well spent, only they can come to that conclusion.
“We will do everything we can to keep him. David is an outstanding player and he has been with us for several years.
“He knows what we have done for him already as a club and he knows what we can do for him going forward.
“We‘re having a red-hot crack at keeping him.”
Fifita‘s Queensland Origin coach, former Brisbane pivot Kevin Walters, said the matchwinning hulk should not fear changing clubs but hopes he inks a new deal with the Broncos.
“As long as he is at a strong club with good coaching staff, and they are everywhere, I don‘t think it matters so much where Dave goes,” Walters said.
“Such is his talent, he could succeed anywhere, but as a proud Broncos man I‘d love to see him stay at the club.
“I wasn‘t worried about leaving Queensland. I couldn’t wait to jump in the car and drive down to Canberra to play at the Raiders (in 1987-89).
“When the Broncos came in, I really wanted to come back and play for them.
“I don‘t have any control over Dave’s decision, he ultimately has to decide what is the best move for him.
“Sometimes you have to follow your heart and listen to your head as well. Dave should choose the team where he feels he can fit best.”
Former Broncos centre Chris Johns said Fifita could transform the Titans in the same way Kalyn Ponga has rebuilt Newcastle.
“I still can‘t believe he hasn’t signed with the Broncos. His deal should have been sorted out 18 months ago,” Johns said.
“Look at the Kalyn Ponga exercise, everyone would have thought, ‘Geez it’s a risk, that’s a club rebuilding, it’s going to be a lot of pressure on a young bloke, but look at what he has done for the Knights.
“It‘s a difficult decision for Dave, the Titans are throwing huge money at him.”
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Queensland Origin legend Billy Moore said Fifita would earn huge respect by becoming a Bronco for life.
“I‘m a one-club man, that’s always been my philosophy,” Moore said.
“Loyalty is a very strong trait and particularly in tough times.
“Despite the reported price difference in what the Titans are offering him, I would still think there‘s value in Fifita staying at Brisbane.
“Because, when the times are tough and you show loyalty then, I do think it will come back and you will reap the rewards particularly if you‘re the catalyst in turning this ship around.
“The straight out dollar-value difference, you have to respect that but I would stay in Brisbane and you could really be the swing vote that really turns the corner.
“To stay loyal to a club, you gain the respect of people outside the rugby league community because of how you‘re perceived.
“The endorsements that would fly off the back of that would come in spades, especially if David Fifita fulfils this amazing potential we can all see.”