Sport Confidential: Jojo Fifita reveals contract plans, double dose of Broncos-Dolphins in 2023
A Titans young gun, who earned a surprise representative call-up this season, is keen to extend his stay on the Gold Coast — but the club will have to be quick.
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Titans young gun Jojo Fifita wants to do a new deal with Gold Coast as he edges closer to the NRL’s open market.
Fifita, 19, was a rare shining light in a mostly dismal season for the Titans, making his NRL debut and playing eight games to earn Prime Minister’s XIII selection for Australia.
A former sprint and rugby union protege, Fifita played his first game of rugby league last year and has been fast-tracked into the NRL.
While there are plenty of parts in his game that need attention, Fifita showed he has the talent to be a long-term NRL star with a number of eye-catching displays.
Fifita is set to become a free agent on November 1 but he wants to remain on the Gold Coast when his current contract expires at the end of next year.
“The Titans were close to home. It’s only a 15-minute drive from where I live with my family so I can save money,” Fifita said when asked why he knocked back every Super Rugby franchise to switch codes.
“I’d like to stay because it’s close to home and easy to get there. The club has only got one way up and they’ll be getting better every year I reckon.
“I can tell with Tino (Fa’asuamaleaui, captain) and his passion towards the club, he really wants it to succeed. Hopefully I can be part of the club when it does.”
Sosefo “Jojo” Fifita was born in New Zealand and is the son of former Tonga Rugby Union World Cup representative Pila Fifita.
While he could have played for New Zealand, Fifita has chosen Australia and the Maroons – despite not knowing which team Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was picking him for last month.
“It used to be New Zealand when I was playing union,” he said.
“Now I’ve changed over to Australia. I see myself as an Aussie now.
“Mal called me out of the blue and said a spot had opened up for me if I wanted it. It was definitely a surprise. I wasn’t exactly sure what the team was because they hadn’t played in a few years.
“Once he explained it I was pretty excited and so was the family. Dad was trying to listen to the conversation the whole time.”
PLANS FOR HISTORIC GRUDGE MATCH REVEALED
Get set for fireworks between Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett and Broncos rival Kevin Walters.
Expansion rivals the Broncos and Dolphins are set to square off twice next season as the NRL looks to capitalise on the code’s newest grudge match.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Dolphins are expected to face the Broncos inside the first four rounds of the 2023 premiership when the NRL’s 17th team make their splash in the big league next season.
While the full NRL draw will not be released for another month, it is understood the Broncos and Dolphins will face each other twice, with both clashes at Suncorp Stadium to maximise the impact of the Battle of Brisbane.
With Suncorp Stadium off limits for two months due to the women’s soccer World Cup next year, both derbies are likely to be scheduled before round 17.
The Dolphins have asked the NRL for their historic round-one debut game to be against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, paying home to Redcliffe and Easts legend Arthur Beetson.
But within weeks of the Dolphins-Roosters opener, the new franchise will be bracing for a River City Rumble with the Broncos.
There will be no shortage of narratives, not least the head-to-head showdown between Dolphins super coach Bennett and his former protege, Broncos mentor Walters.
Walters has welcomed the introduction of the Dolphins, dismissing fears a fourth Queensland team could erode the Broncos’ brand.
“I’ve got no problem (with expansion in Brisbane),” Walters said recently. “I think it’s great for the game, for coaches, administration and the rivalry will be something else as well.”
“The Dolphins will be great for Queensland rugby league, I’m looking forward to it.”
The Dolphins have weathered heavy criticism over their failure to land a marquee player, but chief executive Terry Reader dismissed concerns over the club’s progress ahead of their inaugural pre-season next month.
“We have got 24 players signed, so that’s enough to meet the signing deadline of November 1,” Reader said.
“There is still plenty of time before we officially run out in March next year. We need to sign another six players but under NRL rules, you need to have 24 players by November 1 and we have met that.
“Wayne Bennett has been around a long time and we have full confidence in the squad he is putting together and what he needs for the Dolphins to be successful. We’re comfortable with our progress and we’ll fill our roster with more spots before kick off in 2023.”
VICTOR EXPANDS HIS EMPIRE
First there was Victoria Bitter. Now we have Victor (Radley) Bitter.
Affectionately known as Victor the Inflictor, the Roosters hitman is leveraging his status as an NRL cult figure by launching his own beer label as he toasts his Radley Inc business empire.
With the support of business advisors, Radley is becoming quite the entrepreneur off the field, creating an ‘Inflictor’ series of products headlined by cartoon-themed T-shirts and even his own lager, which is already for sale.
Images obtained by Sport Confidential show Radley’s new range of beer, which includes two recipes, The Inflictor’s Draught and Pale Ale, accompanied by a Roosters-coloured theme of blue, white and red on the cans.
Radley’s beer has been manufactured by a Sunshine Coast brewery and is being sold at the Clovelly Hotel in the heart of Roosters territory. Fans can also savour Radley’s Roosters brew by buying a four-pack or 16-pack carton online.
Two years ago, Queensland Origin star Cameron Munster launched his range of ‘Mad Dog’ ginger beer, but Radley and Penrith’s Nathan Cleary are the only NRL players to have their own branded lager.
Radley’s business partners launched an Inflictor range of T-shirts during last month’s NRL finals. After selling 4000 shirts to rabid Roosters fans in 24 hours, Radley has developed an Inflictor England limited edition ahead of his debut for the Poms at this month’s World Cup.
Radley is one of several NRL players who have teamed with Cartoon Sports to promote a T-shirt series. Aside from Radley, Eels fullback Clint Gutherson has the ‘King Gutho’ series as part of a T-shirt range on the Cartoon Sports Fanatics website.
I got my Lil Victor shirt today, can’t wait to wear it 💪🻠#VictorTheInflictor#SydneyRoosters#EastsToWin#VictorRadleypic.twitter.com/w3HjQqbRYU
— TKO’d (@d_mcguiness08) September 30, 2022
Radley has also ventured into property, buying a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, as he builds a diverse portfolio away from rugby league.
“For Victor, we wanted to look beyond building a property portfolio and he was interested in developing his brand – The Inflictor,” said his business advisor Jayden Walker.
“The first step was to get the fans involved and what better than wearing an Inflictor T-shirt, and drinking an Inflictor beer while watching the Inflictor playing on TV.
“Victor was keen to give back so we partnered with Starlight Children’s Foundation. We are donating $2 of the T-shirt sales to them and planning an event down the track.
“Your brand is something you build during your playing career, it comes off the back of your performances on and off the field.
“We want players to experience business first-hand and how to handle business transactions, it’s real-life stuff outside of the NRL which teaches them some skills for life after football.
“Victor has worked tremendously hard to get into the position he is today and this is mainly because of the type of person Victor is deep down. Vic thinks the beer is great, hopefully he will be pouring beers at the Clovelly Hotel in the off-season.”
Fans interested in sampling Radley’s Roosters drop can do so at buybeerhere.com.au.
TEAM UP WITH EMPEROR OF LANG PARK
Ever dreamed of playing alongside Queensland Origin legends Wally Lewis and Allan Langer?
Well, here’s your chance.
Suncorp Stadium bosses are offering the opportunity for you and 11 of your mates to team up with ‘The King’ Lewis and ‘Alfie’ Langer for a game at the hallowed home of Queensland rugby league.
The special chosen ones will be provided with a full team kit and dressing-room access before emerging from the tunnel and running onto Suncorp with Lewis and Langer in tow.
Visit https://app.galabid.com/ssgolfday to be part of the Team Wally v Team Alfie experience.
Meanwhile, there are some last-minute vacancies available for Suncorp’s annual Charity Golf Day on Friday. Head to suncorpstadium.com.au to register your interest.
SHOOSH
Which NRL club recruitment chief is under huge pressure to save his job? The rumour won’t go away.
ROAD RAGE
Which Sydney-based NRL player has asked his club to cover the road tolls he pays to drive to training? Maybe the self-entitled top liner needs a job in the real world.
BRONCOS GO ALL-IN ON WOMEN
The Broncos are beefing up their NRLW operations following the departure of coach Kelvin Wright.
The Broncos are not only on the lookout for a new coach ahead of 2023, they are also recruiting a newly created NRLW head of football.
The women’s program has previously fallen under the remit of NRL head of football Ben Ikin, but that is about to change.
The club wants to strengthen its women’s side of the game following a couple of disappointing seasons following Brisbane’s early dominance in the NRLW, winning the first three competitions.
The Broncos will recruit a head of football to focus solely on the NRLW and women’s program and a new head coach.
That will allow Ikin to shift his focus to the NRL side of things following recent tensions with coach Kevin Walters.
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: Jojo Fifita reveals contract plans, double dose of Broncos-Dolphins in 2023
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