NRL news: David Fifita’s shock Round 10 Des Hasler clause opens door for Gold Coast Titans exit
In a further boost to PNG’s hopes of securing the 18th expansion licence, Andrew Abdo spent time with the country’s Prime Minister during the Pacific Championships.
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NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has lavished praise on Papua New Guinea’s passion for rugby league after spending time in Port Moresby with the country’s Prime Minister James Marape during the Pacific Championships.
In a further boost to PNG’s hope of securing the 18th licence when the ARL Commission makes a call on expansion, Abdo walked away from the experience with a deeper appreciation for the country’s’ passion for the code.
“The passion for rugby league in Papua New Guinea is inspirational,” Abdo said.
“It unites the country in a unique way. In a country with over 800 languages, rugby league is a language everyone understands - 15,000 fans at the Pacific Championships matches sounded like 50,000 fans.
“It was wonderful to spend time with Prime Minister Marape, who shares a deep connection with the game and to witness first hand the passion and genuine love the PNG community have for the game.”
It was Abdo’s first time in PNG having raced to the match having attended Australia’s game in New Zealand the night before.
Abdo’s support for PNG comes after Australia’s Pacific Minister Pat Conroy revealed they were talking to their government counterparts about how the Australian government could best support any bid.
“(PNG) would love to see an announcement in 2025 with the games starting in 2027-2028,” Conroy said.
“I think that’s a timeline that makes sense. We are talking to PNG about how we can best support the bid. Obviously that might involve allocating resources.
“It’s really important that the NRL and the Papua New Guineans are in this and the Australian government stands ready to support it where it is appropriate.”
FIFITA’S SHOCK HASLER EXIT CLAUSE REVEALED
Gold Coast superstar David Fifita has become a shock addition to the player market after it emerged that he had a Des Hasler clause in his contract that allows him to join a rival club in 2025.
The Titans announced a three-year extension with Fifita in August but Sunday Sesh can reveal the new deal included player options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
It means Fifita effectively became a free agent on November 1. This masthead understands the secret clause had nothing to do with money, but was purely put in his contract to ensure Fifita had time to strike up a relationship with Hasler.
Under the terms of the clause, it is believed Fifita has until round 10 to take up a deal with the Titans for 2025 or sign elsewhere.
The Queensland State of Origin forward is understood to be on a contract at the Gold Coast that pays him almost $1 million a season, making him one of the highest paid forwards in the NRL.
However, Fifita had a close relationship with former coach Justin Holbrook and seriously considered leaving when he was sacked midway through last season.
He and captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui were convinced to stay after a series of meetings with Hasler, but Fifita wanted some protections in his new deal to ensure he enjoyed life under Hasler.
Fa’asuamaleaui signed a deal until the end of 2033, although he has an out clause after the 2026 season.
Fifita is the more immediate concern for Hasler and the Titans. It is understood he has no desire to leave the club but wants to see how the Gold Coast operate under Hasler before he commits his future to the Titans.
TIGERS TO BARE CLAWS AGAIN
The Wests Tigers boardroom ructions are poised to flare again on Monday night as the club’s directors meet for the first time since chair Lee Hagipantelis was asked to step aside while an external review was being conducted.
Hagipantelis was scheduled to front his fellow board members on October 23 but the meeting was postponed while chief executive Justin Pascoe was overseas.
That meeting will now take place on Monday night and will mark the first time the board has met since Hagipantelis was asked to step aside by fellow director Tony Andreacchio, one of the Holman Barnes Group nominees on the board.
Sunday Sesh understands that the Holman Barnes Group has been briefed on the findings of the external review into the club’s governance, which was conducted by former NRL chief operating officer Tony Crawford and managing director of Cooperage Capital Gary Barnier.
It is understood that the independent directors on the Tigers board - including Hagipantelis - and the Balmain representatives are yet to be given details of the investigation.
Once the politics has been settled, the Tigers board are expected to discuss their plans for a head of football to ease the burden on coach Benji Marshall.
Parramatta head of football Mark O’Neill, a former Tigers player and administrator, is believed to be the preferred candidate although some at the club have reached out to former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to gauge his interest.
RIVALS QUEUE FOR WARRIOR
The Warriors have granted Addin Fonua-Blake permission to negotiate with rival clubs for 2025 – and the Dragons and the Tigers are already circling.
Clubs will have to stump up a million dollars a season to land Fonua-Blake because under NRL rules he will be unable to take a pay cut to shift clubs whilst under contract.
The Dragons and the Tigers are among the first Sydney clubs to express an interest in the Tongan star while the Bulldogs could also circle.
Clubs are under the impression that part of Fonua-Blake’s decision to remain at the Warriors in 2024 meant he would be free to leave unshackled in 2025. However, it is understood the Warriors will still want a player swap or adequate replacement before they allow one of the game’s best props to exit the club.
ORIGIN BATTLE FOR BRADY
NFL legend Tom Brady is at the centre of a State of Origin-type bunfight after Sydney launched an 11th hour bid to steal one of the world’s most famous athletes from the clutches of the city of Brisbane.
Sunday Sesh revealed a fortnight ago that a document had been sent to corporate supporters to gauge their interest in being part of the Brady extravaganza, outlining his plans to conduct events in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Crown Melbourne on Friday confirmed that Brady would be in Australia for a speaking event at the Palladium on January 27, billed as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of “the most iconic athletes of all time”.
However, the Brisbane event remains up in the air amid speculation that Sydney is close to snatching Brady and bringing him to one of the city’s stadiums.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, is scheduled to hold a seminar in Melbourne as well as host a corporate dinner at a private location and conduct a corporate meet and greet.
There are few details around the other elements of his tour — he will be in Australia for about a week. However, it is understood the NRL would be keen to catch up with Brady as they look to capitalise on his visit to this country to help promote their plans to launch next season in Las Vegas.
If Sydney is successful in convincing Brady to snub Brisbane, it would give the NRL the ideal opportunity to organise their own meet-and-greet with the recently-retired grid iron star.
Brady has also timed his trip to coincide with the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne.
MAL WANTS NSW GAMES
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has called for an end of a Sydney blackout with Australia playing just two matches in its bigges tmarket in 13 years.
Sydney has not hosted a game since the 2017 World Cup where Australia played Lebanon. You have to go back to 2014 for the last big Test match where Australia took on New Zealand at the old SFS.
Since then Sydney was overlooked for key World Cup matches in 2017 and again this year for the Pacific Championships.
Meninga said the rise of international football could see the Kangaroos pack out either CommBank Stadium or Allianz Stadium if they were given a chance to play at the venues for the first time.
“We want to play in Sydney,” Meninga said.
“We have some great stadia here. It’s not for me to make any judgements on. We have to propagate the game in New Zealand and Pacific. But we have to be loyal to our followers which is Sydney. It’s a balancing act. Hopefully next year we can get some games in Sydney.”
The last meaningful Kangaroos fixtures in Sydney was the World Cup Nines in 2019.
Meanwhile, Samoa have pulled out of their planned tour of England next year. England are now trying to secure a replacement nation.
PAPS HEADS BACK TO STATES
Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen is heading back to America to spend time with conditioner Bill Knowles as he looks to reclaim his No.1 jersey and keep the threats of Nick Meaney and Sua Faalogo at bay.
Papenhuyzen has made solid progress in his return from a broken ankle but reached out to Knowles in a bid to fast-track his recovery in time for round one next year.
The flying Storm fullback spent time with Knowles as he worked his way back from a shattered kneecap last year and in his absence, Meaney took ownership of the No.1 jersey and Faalogo continued his rapid rise, which has only accelerated with his performances for Samoa at the Pacific Championships.
There is a view in some quarters that Faalogo’s ascent played a part in the emergence of a recent story suggesting Papenhuyzen was being shopped to rivals.
The Storm dismissed the report, insisting Papenhuyzen remains a valuable and important member of their squad.
Papenhuyzen’s only concern is with reclaiming his best form and he believes Knowles can help him do it.
“I am hopefully going to go back over to see Bill in December,” Papenhuyzen told Sunday Sesh. “Over there it will be finding out the right things to do and getting that confidence to come back and be flying again for January.
“Just the confidence it gave me last time it was a bit of a no-brainer to go and do it again. I remember once I came back last time, I sort of wanted in this period now to go over and see him regardless of if I had done anything, just to see if I was on the right track with my knee and what more I could do going into the next season.
“I was already planning to do it. As it happened I messaged him and he said he was free in late December. So hopefully it works out that I can go over there.
“It was my idea but everyone else was pretty happy with me going over, seeing how it helped me last time.”
STORM FINED FOR REF ATTACK
Melbourne have been fined by the NRL after trainer Ryan Hinchcliffe was sent from the field during a match against Penrith earlier this year.
Referee Adam Gee stopped the game to send off Hinchcliffe for backchat. The Storm have been fined an undisclosed amount.
The referee just gave a Melbourne Storm trainer the boot! 😅
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FORAN’S TOUCHING TRIBUTE AFTER LOSING STEP-SON
Rugby league star Kieran Foran has made a touching tribute to his step-son after the death of 20-year-old Logan Steinwede.
The rugby league community has rallied behind Foran after his step-son died by suicide, just a month after his 20th birthday.
Foran married Steinwede’s mum Karina in 2018.
“You (sic) in your happy place,” Foran wrote on his Instagram. “I love you Logz. I’ll miss you everyday for the rest of my life.”
Karina shared her own heartache.
“I would give anything my boy,” she captioned a video of her and Logan walking arm-in-arm.
Logan was on the verge of becoming a professional surfer. It has been reported that the Foran’s were on a weekend away in Melbourne when Logan died. Logan was staying at his grandparents house.
MEDIA BUZZ
Matt Russell
Age: 52
Job title: Fox Sports broadcaster
First job?
Check-out chick at my dad’s chemist. A shy European gentleman once asked for French letters and I tried to send him to the post office.
Your sporting heroes?
The Parramatta Eels backline of the early 1980s in winter … and Allan Border in summer.
What rugby league team do you follow?
Wests Magpies.
What sports did you play?
Soccer, league and then union when I got sick of tackling. And enough cricket to have a regular booking at Sun Doctors.
How do you spend a day off?
Walking through the Illawarra escarpment or fixing something in the family cafe. Usually the latter!
Career highlight?
Happens most weekends — the humbling experience of touring and commentating with such a range of Australian sporting greats. (And interviewing Kobe Bryant at Nike HQ in Oregon was cool.)
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