Electric backrower David Fifita declares he wants to stay with the Broncos
After another epic performance, David Fifita has declared he wants to stay with Brisbane and help the Broncos end their premiership drought.
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Monster teenager David Fifita has declared his heart is with the Broncos in the strongest sign yet the Queensland Origin sensation will shun potential $1 million offers to stay loyal to Brisbane.`
The Broncos will table a formal contract extension for Fifita this week in the wake of the 19-year-old’s latest display of hard-running brutality to inspire Brisbane’s epic 17-16 extra-time defeat of Parramatta on Friday night.
The 108kg wrecking ball tore the Eels apart, scoring a rampaging 30th-minute solo try before unleashing the golden-point charge that led to Jamayne Isaako’s matchwinning field goal.
Fifita finished with 132 running metres, eight tackle busts and a game-high three line breaks to cement his reputation as the most ferocious emerging back-rower in the code.
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A staggering 10 clubs are lining up with big-money deals to snare Fifita, who is off-contract next year, but his post-match critique of the Broncos underlines how difficult it will be to prise him from the NRL’s richest team.
“I love the Broncos,” Fifita declared in the aftermath of his Eels demolition.
“They are a great club, I have been with them ever since I was really young and the staff and the boys have done so much for me.
“They have done a lot for me in my career already.”
Fifita’s market value is soaring with every blockbusting performance. NRL suitors have advised his management they are prepared to consider tabling formal offers nudging the $1 million-a-season mark.
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With the Broncos already possessing one $1 million player in Anthony Milford, they cannot afford another seven-figure outlay to extend Fifita beyond 2020. But they can pay up to $800,000 annually under the salary cap in 2021 and if their offer is in the ballpark, Fifita will stay.
A key factor in Fifita’s decision will be his close ties to fellow rising forwards Payne Haas and Matt Lodge and their pact to stay together in pursuit of Brisbane’s first premiership since 2006.
The Maroons back-rower can field formal offers from November 1, but Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is confident Brisbane hierarchy will strike a retention blow before then.
“There has been commentary around us signing all these players and we have left no room for David, that is totally untrue,” he said.
“We have a really good contract sitting there ready to go for David, Peter Nolan (recruitment chief) is meeting with his manager (this) Wednesday.
“David has indicated to me he wants to stay, it’s just really working out the terms of the contract and whatever else.
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“We have the money there (in the salary cap) for David.”
Fifita set-up the Eels victory with ferocious charges coming back infield against the grain, a tactical play he is relishing.
“That’s the play that I like,” he said of his matchwinning run in extra-time.
“It was an early play and I just dropped under through the middle. I backed myself to go all the way, but I got a quick play the ball and Isaako did the job for us in the end.
“Darius (Boyd) is real helpful for me. He directs me and tells me to get to this point of the field and have a run.
“I don’t like to think about things too much out there, I just want the ball and I just run.”
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