‘Broncos going hard’: Truth about Brisbane’s 11th hour Fifita raid

Surprise new details have emerged about the Broncos’ decision to enter the scrap for former $1 million-man David Fifita.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: David Fifita of the Titans runs the ball during the round four NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Wests Tigers at Cbus Super Stadium, on March 31, 2022, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Broncos have reportedly had their eye on David Fifita for some time, despite the club only going public with its recruitment raid this week.

It was revealed on Wednesday night the powerful Queensland club has emerged as a legitimate player in the scrap to sign the Titans’ former $1.2m-per-season man.

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According to 7News’ Mishelle Bishop, the Broncos are “going hard” for Fifita with the money freed up by losing Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth to the Dolphins.

Fifita famously left the Broncos at the end of the 2020 season after signing a deal that made him the highest-paid forward in rugby league.

The 23-year-old has failed to deliver on the hype since joining the Titans and he is reportedly looking at a massive pay cut while the Titans, Raiders and Broncos fight it out for his signature.

Bishop told SEN Breakfast on Thursday Fifita appears to have made a decision he wants to remain in south-east Queensland — ruling the Raiders out.

The Raiders were reportedly hoping to lure the Fifita to the nation’s capital in a package deal with his partner, NRLW star Shaylee Bent.

“Brisbane, they are going in hard,” she said.

David Fifita has been linked to a return to the Broncos.

“This is an 11th hour bid for him. They got to free up a little bit of space in their cap for him with Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler. I do know Brisbane would have gone earlier, they were absolutely interested, but salary cap was an issue. He’s 23, he’s got offers all over the joint. Ricky Stuart did his best to bring him to the nation’s capital. The titans, they want to retain him.

“My sources are telling me he’s very much going to be staying in Queensland one way or another. The Raiders had hoped to retain both of them in a Millie-Boyle-Adam Elliott type situation down there. But as I said he’ll be staying in Quensland and the Raiders are out of the race.”

The Broncos’ pursuit of another second-rower has been questioned while the club already has Jordan Riki and Kurt Capewell on its books.

“I find it an unusual decision,” NRL 360 host Paul Kent said.

Tom Flegler is headed to the Dolphins.

“They are trying to replace Farnworth and Flegler who are going to the Dolphins, so you have got a middle forward and a centre going and they are going to replace them with an edge forward. I just don’t understand it.

“Now I will say there will probably be an appetite for the Titans given his huge salary on the salary cap and how much rooms he takes up there, to get him out of there to free up some room given their return on their investment probably hasn’t been what they would have liked.

“That means the Broncos could probably get him for cheaper than market value, so that makes sense from that point of view.

“In the cattle trade you could sort of work it out, but as far trying to sure up their positions for the players they are losing it doesn’t make sense.

“Whoever is running the roster management (former NRL 360 co-host Ben Ikin) up there has got no idea (laughs).”

— with foxsports.com.au