‘Crazy’: Report throws NRL player market into spin

A huge twist has emerged surrounding the future of the NRL’s next $3 million star with one club forced into a major backflip.

David Fifita and Angus Crichton.

Angus Crichton’s red-hot form has tossed a wrench into the works of several NRL clubs’ recruitment plans with another twist in the saga surrounding David Fifita.

The Titans star has emerged as one of the hottest properties in the game after news emerged the Panthers were preparing to chase his signature.

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Fifita has a clause in his contract with the Titans for next year, but he needs to trigger it by Thursday at 8pm (AEST), which is when Round 10 gets underway.

The Dragons and Roosters have also been linked with big money offers for Fifita with the Bondi-based club reportedly ready to put a $3.3 million, four-year deal on the table.

The Roosters, however, are suddenly also juggling the priority of holding onto Crichton.

The former NSW and Kangaroos star struggled through the 2023 season, but has exploded out of the blocks this year.

David Fifita and Angus Crichton.

His form reversal coincides with widespread reports in February he had agreed to join a French rugby side on a rich deal following earlier reports linking him with a two year, $1.6 million deal with Rugby Australia and The Western Force that fell through.

With that French deal reportedly yet to be locked in, the Roosters have been forced to re-think plans not to pursue the possibility of re-signing the second-rower.

According to leading rugby league journalist Danny Weidler, the Roosters could potentially be chasing the signatures of Fifita and Crichton.

News Corp has also reported this week that the Roosters are now preparing to make Crichton a contract extension offer.

However, Weidler reports the Chooks could potentially have a powerful opposition club thwarting their plans with Penrith also in the equation.

The Channel 9 reporter said the Panthers could turn their attention to Crichton if Fifita knocks them back.

“I think that Penrith would see Crichton as a potential target if they were to miss out on David Fifita,” Weidler said on Tuesday on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

David Fifita could be on the move. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“I know the Roosters, they weren’t budgeting on keeping Angus Crichton. But his form over the last month has forced their hand.

“... The Roosters were telling me yesterday, ‘No, we are not interested in David Fifita. We are focused on keeping Angus Crichton and we’re going to make him an offer most likely this week’.

“So, whether they can have both those players I don’t know, but there’s definitely interest and I think if Angus was to not go to rugby and Penrith had space, I think they’d be interested. They’d definitely look at him. I think that other teams would also look at him. I think you’d be crazy not to.”

Meanwhile, Weidler also added that the French rugby team that Crichton was understood to have “some sort of a verbal agreement” to go play with is facing potential relegation, which is further complicating matters.

“I don’t think Angus Crichton’s that keen to go and play second division rugby in France,” Weidler added.

“That’s part of the issue. There’s also an issue in that there are a lot of players on the market in English and European rugby, because I think a couple of teams folded over there. So the market’s not as good for the likes of a Crichton and others, which makes potentially league an option again for him.”

The Roosters are flushed with cash for next season given the looming departures of Luke Keary (retirement), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Super League), Joseph Manu and Joseph Sua’ali’i (both rugby union).

Fifita, meanwhile, reportedly flew into Sydney on Sunday to meet with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary before Penrith formally made a three-year offer worth $850,000 a season.

The Panthers have lost a raft of players to free agency in recent seasons, with the back-to-back-to-back premiers feeling the salary cap squeeze.

One of those players is star front rower James Fisher-Harris, who is departing Penrith at the end of the season to head to the Warriors, which will clear up close to $1 million a season from the cap, The SMH’s Michael Chammas said.

Despite the fact Fifita could fetch seven figures on the open market, it has been reported that Penrith aren’t willing to offer that much.

“Respectfully, I’m not going to comment on recruitment today,” Ivan Cleary said on Monday.

“It’s a very sensitive issue, all recruitment, and it affects a lot of people, clubs, players, agents, families, and I think we’ve already filled our quota for recruitment stories this year.”