David Fifita signs $3.5m contract with Gold Coast Titans, snubs Brisbane Broncos

20-year-old David Fifita will be one of the NRL’s biggest money players after agreeing to sign with the Titans, in another fresh blow to the Broncos.

David Fifita is one of the NRL’s big talents, and now he’ll be paid like it.

The NRL’s biggest contract question mark David Fifita has made his decision and will join the Gold Coast Titans on a massive three-year $3.5 million contract, making him one of the highest paid players in the competition.

Fifita, who was a noticeable absence on The Daily Telegraph ‘s rich list released today, will reportedly move straight into the NRL’s top earners as the 20-year-old reportedly signed with the Titans today.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

It comes after 7 News journalist Chris Garry reported that Fifita had told Broncos teammates he was signing with the Titans, before Titans culture manager Mal Meninga revealed on Fox League’s Super Saturday that the mega contract was official.

“It’s a great signing for the club,” he said. “With all humility and respect, I think the Fifita family have handled it really really well. David, his mother Gwen and all their family have handled the tough circumstances because it’s been played out in the media a fair but what a great acquisition for the club going forward. Come down and play with some of his mates from the old Keebra Park days.”

Michael Ennis said it was a massive signing for the Titans and could be the difference to drag the team out of the doldrums of the league.

“It’s so significant, when they started they had some great signings but for quite a period of time, the Titans have been languishing at the bottom and haven’t been a club that a lot of the top players have wanted to go to — now they will,” he said.

David Fifita at Red Hill.

But while it’s great news for the Titans, the Broncos will be ruing a missed opportunity.

The 20-year-old has played 37 games over three seasons for Brisbane but now at one of the club’s lowest ebbs after a 46-8 loss to the Melbourne Storm on Friday night, it’s another big blow.

“It’s an enormous blow for the Broncos,” he said.

“I can’t remember a player of that significance leaving the Brisbane Broncos and to go to their little brother is a real kick in the teeth for where Brisbane is at the moment.

“You look at the forward pack the Titans are going to have next year and all of a sudden young halfbacks are going to want to go there and play behind it, quality dummy halves will want to go there and play behind it and quality outside backs will want to go there and play behind it.”

In a media release, the Broncos CEO Paul White said the club would now look at other recruitment opportunities.

“We have been in ongoing discussions, across more than 20 meetings, as we sought to find a way to keep David at the Broncos, where he has played some fantastic football in recent years,” he said.

“At the end of the day it was a really tough decision for a young man to make and we respect the choice that David has made.

“It’s disappointing to see David depart but we look forward to him returning to the field to finish out the season with the Broncos. We wish him all the best with his rugby league future.”

David Fifita couldn’t turn down the Titans offer.

Cooper Cronk said it was similar to the “Kalyn Ponga effect” with Ponga getting Mitchell Pearce before David Klemmer and now Tyson Frizell coming through.”

Meninga promised the club wouldn’t be standing still either.

“For us it’s a huge kick,” Meninga said, but warned rivals: “It’s only the start of what we’re trying to achieve.”

It’s a stunning signing with former Bronco Jharal Yow Yeh sharing his disbelief on social media.

This is bullshit ..... WTF have we come to, to lose a great kid like David Fifita, I wish you all the best brother. I hope all your dreams come true ❤️

— Jharal Yow Yeh (@Jharalyowyeh5) July 25, 2020

The Courier Mail reported that the decision came due to a pair of factors including a $1 million sacrifice to stay at the Broncos and a “fear he will not improve as a player under the coaching of (Broncos coach Anthony) Seibold.

It comes after Seibold refused to answer a question on Fifita in his post-match press conference after the Storm loss.

In a statement from the Titans, coach Justin Holbrook was thrilled by the decision.

“I am extremely excited by David committing to our Club for the next 3 years,” Holbrook said.

“As a coach we want to bring players to our club to improve the squad and David will definitely do that.

“David already has a close connection with our club through some of our players which is an important element that I am looking for as we build this team.”

Fifita has plenty of ties to the Titans, as will be set to join former Australian Schoolboys teammates Tanah Boyd and 2021 recruit Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, and Keebra Park alumni in AJ Brimson and Moeaki Fotuaika.