What David Fifita’s new Gold Coast Titans deal could mean for the club
The Gold Coast Titans have locked in their marquee man, but what could it mean for the club's future and the rest of the NRL? We answer the five burning questions here
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Basking in the aftermath of securing his NRL future, David Fifita has revealed he never truly wanted to entertain the idea of leaving the Titans – even for his former club with which he made his name.
Now the Gold Coast’s marquee man has set his sights on a return to the State of Origin arena.
The 23-year-old announced on Monday night he had extended his stay on the Glitter Strip, with NewsCorp reporting a three-year deal worth approximately $2.4m.
It is a far cry from the reported $1.25m a season contract he inked upon his arrival at the Titans in 2021, and with that hefty pay packet came a relentless burden of expectation from rugby league’s commentators.
Fifita said it would come as somewhat of a relief that the hype and conjecture may die down and he could cast aside any off field distractions.
And while the Canberra Raiders were hunting the Tongan international, with a bid from his debut club the Brisbane Broncos threatening the Titans pursuit – he said his intent had always been to remain under coach Justin Holbrook.
“The interest I had I entertained all my options. There were a few clubs there, but my management and my team behind me I worked extremely hard for myself and parents and I knew where I wanted to be at the end of the day,” Fifita said.
“Everyone talks and everyone has their own opinion. But for myself, I just want to play footy and try and win every week.
“It’s always there wherever you go, wherever you play, it’s on everyone in the NRL. But for myself I’m just happy I announced it my way in my time.
“I feel relaxed and I can just work now, and not have everyone asking me what I’m doing. Now that that’s’ out of the way I can just worry about footy and training.”
Fifita’s retention locks in the Titans forward pack for the foreseeable future, with his extension taking him through until the end of 2026 alongside Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Beau Fermor.
Erin Clark (2025) and Moeaki Fotuaika (2024) have also been secured, with backline star AJ Brimson (2026) to feature in the spine for years to come.
It is the foundation which Fifita believes can help launch him back to the form which garnered five Origin caps for Queensland between 2019 and 2021.
Fifita’s form was questioned at times throughout last season, with the club suffering a 10-game losing streak to go from finals contenders the year prior to wooden spoon contender.
He said that with much of the core group retained, and the acquisition of Kieran Foran until the end of 2024, a nucleus was there to help propel him back towards rugby league’s grandest stage.
“My first year when I started here I played Origin, and I don’t want to look too far down the track and just take it week by week,” Fifita said.
“I think we have the right puzzles and the right pieces for myself to be back there. I want to be back there, but I know what I need to do to deserve that spot back. I’m just working hard on myself.
“Foz (Foran) is a competitor; he’s such a great leader and his presence around the club is good. It’s what I need, someone telling me what to do and I think Foz does that.
“Foz really gets into me, so it’s really good to play alongside him.”
Despite picking up a knee injury in the Round One win over the Tigers, Foran has been named to take his place against the Dragons this week where he will link up with Fifita once again.
Fifita finished with 170 running metres, five tackle busts a linebreak and a try assist in a barnstorming season opener playing alongside the Kiwi veteran.
1. DISTRACTION NO MORE
The speculation surrounding his future is at last over, and now Fifita is determined to simply focus on the task at hand — salvaging the Titans and guiding them back to finals football.
Season 2022 was one that attracted a wealth of criticism for both the man and the club, and when Fifita was free to negotiate his next deal from November 1 the question was asked: how much is he worth?
If the reported $800,000 a season figure is accurate, it takes the 107kg wrecking ball back down to the realm of rival NRL heavyweight backrowers, and with that could come still plenty of expectation but not the demands of being expected to orchestrate every win off his own million dollar back.
2. MONEY TO STRIKE
While he arrived at the club on one of the biggest deals in NRL, Fifita has reportedly remained on the Glitter Strip on significantly less.
The former Maroon was reported to have signed his first three-year deal on around $1.25m, however according to Newscorp his new contract will be for $2.4m over three seasons — or $800,000 a year.
Not only does this mean the Titans have retained their marquee forward, but they will also have cash to splash in the coming campaigns to bolster their stocks — roughly $400,000 each season of his deal.
Up front does not appear to be a concern, while the club’s back three options in AJ Brimson, Jojo Fifita, Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Jayden Campbell all come with a heap of promise and potential
There are few high profile players coming off contract at the end of 2023, but 2024 is a different story.
Reigning Golden Boot winner Joey Manu and South Sydney gun Campbell Graham will both be free to negotiate with rival outfits from November 1, and the pair are among the most elite centres in the NRL.
The Gold Coast currently have one-time Origin representative Phillip Sami and rookie Aaron Schoupp taking those spots, while both Brian Kelly and Patrick Herbert are off contract by the end of next year.
Kieran Foran will also end his two-year deal by then, and should the injury-plagued veteran not continue the likes of Tigers star Adam Doueihi could loom as an intriguing option.
The freedom of extra funds without losing Fifita could allow the Titans to make a genuine play for another backline weapon to unlock the side’s attack.
3. PACK STABILITY
The leading teams in the NRL each possess forward packs who enable their backline the time and space to thrive.
Think Penrith — with James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Issah Yeo and until recently Viliame Kikau giving Nathan Cleary and the like every opportunity to launch raid after raid.
Think the Sydney Roosters — Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves refusing to take a backwards step.
For the Titans, Fifita’s retention means their foundation is secured; with skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2026), Beau Fermor (2026), Erin Clark (2025), Issac Liu (2024), Moeaki Fotuaika (2024) and young gun Klese Haas (2024) all locked in.
The platform with which every attacking raid is set has been secured, could it be the key to stability and with that a premiership charge?
“Every club has great forwards; we have a young forward pack, we’re all around that same age group and we’re tight and want to build,” Fifita said.
“They were all waiting on me, and now that I’ve done it let’s go.
“They (my teammates) respected my decision and my privacy at the same time. I got the feeling they wanted to ask me but they held back and I respect that.
“There were a few boys in my ear here and there, big Tino Fa’asuamaleaui … and Tanah Boyd. But I’m here and ready to work.”
4. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SHAYLEE BENT?
When it was reported the Canberra Raiders were planning a recruitment swoop on Fifita, it came with the added notion his partner Shaylee Bent could be secured in a package deal.
The women’s indigenous All Star has been a part of the St George-Illawarra Dragons NRLW outfit since 2019, going on to play 19 games for the Red V while earning a State of Origin debut for New South Wales.
The Raiders will join the 2023 competition along with three other new ventures — the Cowboys, Tigers and Sharks — and it was reported that Canberra pitched the pair to both relocate to the nation’s capital.
However Fifita confirmed that the pair’s playing futures would not be impacted by one or the other, with Bent working behind the scenes to lock in where she will line up.
“She’s got her team working behind the scenes with everything and for myself we have different team management that we work alongside,” Fifita said.
“She’ll get her deal done as soon as possible, but I’m happy I’m here and moving forward.”
5. HOLBROOK‘S BIG WIN
It had been reported that the Raiders had tabled an offer worth $900,000 a season, and with Ricky Stuart’s side reaching last year’s semi-finals the lure appeared genuine.
On the other end of the spectrum, Holbrook’s long-term future on the Gold Coast was called into question in the media following a disastrous campaign which took the Titans from finals dark horses in 2021 to two wins off the bottom of the table in 2022.
But the fact the Titans were able to retain Fifita on less reported money than what was offered in the ACT, as well as starve off the attraction of a return to the Broncos speaks volumes to the direction the edge forward believes the club are headed.
“This is home for me. I’m enjoying my footy here on the Coast and I just wanted to repay the faith to the club, to my teammates and everyone that believed in me and the player I want to be,” Fifita said.
“For myself and a few other boys locked up, we have that core group now and it’s exciting. I’m one of those guys I guess, the older boys for the younger lads to learn off me.
“We just want to win games and be together for a couple of long years ahead.
“It’s exciting to have that group and year by year build that connection, be strong week in week out, and hopefully this year or within the years we’ll be at the end holding the trophy.”
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Originally published as What David Fifita’s new Gold Coast Titans deal could mean for the club
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