Very Sad disappointment: David Fifita ‘turns down’ huge deal worth $850 000 a season..
Ivan Cleary has labelled prospective Panther David Fifita a ‘marquee player’ as the Gold Coast wrecking ball prepares to make a call on his NRL future in the coming days.
To remain at the Titans in 2025, barnstorming second-rower Fifita must trigger a player option in his contract by round 10, which begins on Thursday.
The 24-year-old flew to Sydney and met Panthers officials on Sunday evening, with the triple reigning premiers in a position to make a lucrative offer now that James Fisher-Harris is leaving to join the Warriors in 2025.
The Panthers are understood to have tabled Fifita a long-term deal worth an estimated $850,000 a season from 2025 but Cleary held his cards close to his chest when pressed on Monday.
‘It’s obviously a very sensitive issue, all recruitment,’ the Penrith coach said.
‘It affects a lot of people at clubs, players, agents, families. I think we’ve probably filled our quota for recruitment stories this year so I’m not going to discuss it today.’
Fifita could slot into Penrith’s left second-row spot, which has featured a rotating cast since Viliame Kikau joined Canterbury for 2023.
We’re always looking to evolve,’ he said.
‘If you’re just staying the same, you’re going to get passed. There’s always a danger if you do that too much, you lose track of what you’re good at, too.
