NEWS Brisbane Broncos could lose David Fifita to mega deal

[broncos4life]

Roosters and Rabbitohs in battle to sign David Fifita

Phil Rothfield, Sports Editor-at-Large, The Daily Telegraph
October 23, 2019 6:56pm

Bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs are locked in a multimillion-dollar battle to sign boom Brisbane Broncos forward David Fifita.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Roosters would use money from the retirement of champion halfback Cooper Cronk to lure the teenager to Bondi.

The Rabbitohs have the cap space from the expected medical retirement of Sam Burgess to pitch for the barnstorming forward.

Fifita is rated by many sound judges as the next Sonny Bill Williams, a stunning appraisal considering he is still a raw teenager who has played only 35 NRL games.

The 19-year-old has already played representative football for Queensland, the Prime Minister’s XIII, Indigenous All Stars and Australia in the World Cup Nines.

Fifita will play for the Junior Kangaroos against France in Wollongong.

The Roosters and Rabbitohs are among 10 clubs who have expressed an interest for when Fifita can officially begin negotiations with rival clubs on Friday week, November 1.

Working in South Sydney’s favour is the tight relationship with seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett from their days at the Broncos.

At the same time Roosters coach Trent Robinson has become a magnet for the game’s best young players because of his impressive record including three premierships in just seven years.

There is also the Nick Politis influence and the fact the billionaire automotive tycoon rarely misses out on a player he desperately wants.

Fifita’s manager Steve Deacon is cautiously trying to avoid a media circus.

“There has been enough said about the matter (his contract) at this stage,” Deacon said,
“He’s got other things to concentrate on at the moment.”

Fifita has previously spoken about modelling his game on Burgess.

Fifita talked to Rabbitohs coach Bennett at the World Cup Nines last weekend
.
“Wayne, he’s my first coach … a really good coach for me and my family,” Fifita said this week.

“He helped me become the person I am. He really played a massive part in my career, my first pre-season. We had good, tough conversations to get me to where I am.”

There’s no question that Fifita could join the game’s highest paid players — Kangaroos halfback Daly Cherry-Evans and St George Illawarra’s Bent Hunt who are both on $1.2 million — at the back end of a new contract.

The Roosters are mindful of the fact their Australian and NSW captain Boyd Cordner and champion fullback James Tedesco need to be their highest paid players.

Other players from the grand final need to be upgraded as well, including centre Latrell Mitchell and outstanding young hooker Sam Verrills.

However they will not pay ridiculous money for Mitchell if another club comes in with a monster offer.

Some will suggest the Fifita interest is another example of “creative’’ Roosters salary cap dealings.

However the NRL is satisfied they have the room for 2021, as is the case at other clubs.
At the same time there is enormous pressure on the Broncos and coach Anthony Seibold to convince Fifita to stay.

Working in their favour is their Brisbane network of third parties, the most lucrative in the game, which would allow the club to put the giant forward in the cap at a lower rate than rivals.

Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...a/news-story/f06d8828773826188137de111f1bfb9f

Lol. Bent Hunt.

 

[Wizrat]

I think the fact we never signed him up past 2020 realises that it will be near impossible to hang on to him.

 

[Morepudding]

There are clubs that need a hooker like McCullough, the Warriors being one, Cronulla being another and possibly the Tigers, not perhaps as their main hooker, but as a back up. Whether anything will happen is another question. It does not look like McC is worried about on his current holiday in Africa.

The warriors got Egan. Sharks have hookers. Tigers sorta need him though.

 

[Midean]

I'm lost for words that the NRL is satisfied the Roosters can upgrade the likes of Cordner, Mitchell, Tedesco and others while still offering Fifita over a million a year and still be under the cap. In one week we have gone from having to shed a player or pmayers due to cap to having a spare mil after upgrades. Deadset the game is fast losing me.

I have said it before, i will say it again.
If Fifita go's to the Roosters or the Rabbits, i will give the game away for good.
No bluff, no bluster.
The game can go and get fucked if this bullshit continues.

 

[Battler]

I'm lost for words that the NRL is satisfied the Roosters can upgrade the likes of Cordner, Mitchell, Tedesco and others while still offering Fifita over a million a year and still be under the cap. In one week we have gone from having to shed a player or pmayers due to cap to having a spare mil after upgrades. Deadset the game is fast losing me.

They'll suddenly miss out on all these big name signings when Politis isn't around the club anymore.

Fair enough, but to whom are you directing this threat, and do they actually care?

They should. Melbourne and the rorters are two of the least popular teams in the yet have dominated the last decade. Souths' popularity is way over hyped as well, they're little better than the rorters. The Dogs and Eels are the two teams the NRL wants to be successful in Sydney imo.

 

[Midean]

They'll suddenly miss out on all these big name signings when Politis isn't around the club anymore.



They should. Melbourne and the rorters are two of the least popular teams in the yet have dominated the last decade. Souths' popularity is way over hyped as well, they're little better than the rorters. The Dogs and Eels are the two teams the NRL wants to be successful in Sydney imo.

This. Its also why even though it would be a shame to lose Fifita, it would not be so bad if it was to a club that isnt a slimy sneaky cap rorting club like the roosters/rabbits/storm.

And its no threat, its an indicator of where some fans of the game are at with how things are in the NRL.
I am fed up with the likes of Politis having a hand in recruitment, and the avoidance of the cap through brown paper bag bullshit.

 

[lynx000]

This. Its also why even though it would be a shame to lose Fifita, it would not be so bad if it was to a club that isnt a slimy sneaky cap rorting club like the roosters/rabbits/storm.

And its no threat, its an indicator of where some fans of the game are at with how things are in the NRL.
I am fed up with the likes of Politis having a hand in recruitment, and the avoidance of the cap through brown paper bag bullshit.

Or friendly wagers on holes at golf games.

 

[Morepudding]

Honestly the roosters have a real shot of getting Fifita, especially if Crichton goes to union, or Latrell moves on. They have Cronks $1m salary to bump a lot of players up, and then one of those players leaving basically gives them the cash.

The appeal for players to stay at the Broncos / sign with them simply isn't there anymore. They haven't won a comp in almost 15 years, and their current roster is one that struggles to make the 8.

 

[BroncsFan]

Honestly the roosters have a real shot of getting Fifita, especially if Crichton goes to union, or Latrell moves on. They have Cronks $1m salary to bump a lot of players up, and then one of those players leaving basically gives them the cash.

The appeal for players to stay at the Broncos / sign with them simply isn't there anymore. They haven't won a comp in almost 15 years, and their current roster is one that struggles to make the 8.

There should be no way that rooster get out of paying some of Crichton's contract... they're paying him $800k to sit on the bench.

There wont be any teams picking up that tab.

To me the only club that will offer Fifi $1m is the warriors... all the other clubs will be around that $700-800k mark, including the Broncos.

There's just no way a team should be wearing a second rower on a $1m under the cap... it would **** up the rest of the team.

 

[Super Freak]

Fifita's mum apparently doesn't like Bennett.

But it seems the media's plan has worked on the fans. They throw up Roosters and Rabbitohs in an article title and people just fucking panic.

Relax. He isn't leaving.

The Broncos have been saving room in the cap specifically for Fifita. If there was any inkling he was going to leave, he would be signed already. Deal is expected to be done by January.

 

[Waynesaurus]

But it seems the media's plan has worked on the fans. They throw up Roosters and Rabbitohs in an article title and people just fucking panic.

Yeah...... they are just trying to stir a sh*t for the club with fan backlash.

 

[Matheos]

Fifita's mum apparently doesn't like Bennett.

But it seems the media's plan has worked on the fans. They throw up Roosters and Rabbitohs in an article title and people just fucking panic.

Relax. He isn't leaving.

The Broncos have been saving room in the cap specifically for Fifita. If there was any inkling he was going to leave, he would be signed already. Deal is expected to be done by January.

I agree.
Worst case scenario we could back end his contract to allocate the $450k that Boyd will free up in 2021.

 

[Cult]

I don't think he's leaving but the fact that Chris Garry says we aren't in a rush to sign him scares me. We've been cocky about signings in the past and it's bitten us on the ass. Get him signed up ASAP and stop stressing the fans out so much. We need (deserve?) some good news.

 

[Foordy]

Honestly the roosters have a real shot of getting Fifita, especially if Crichton goes to union, or Latrell moves on. They have Cronks $1m salary to bump a lot of players up, and then one of those players leaving basically gives them the cash.

The appeal for players to stay at the Broncos / sign with them simply isn't there anymore. They haven't won a comp in almost 15 years, and their current roster is one that struggles to make the 8.

They've been claiming for the last 2 years that Cronk was only on 600k, now he retires the expect jump in what they claim he frees up has occured.

Not to mention that they also spent part of that signing Flanagan from the Sharks to replace Cronk

 

[Super Freak]

Now they are saying the Bulldogs are preparing to throw $14 million at the Trbojevic brothers and Fifita.

Lol.

 

[The Strapper]

Now they are saying the Bulldogs are preparing to throw $14 million at the Trbojevic brothers and Fifita.

Lol.

Have you left out a decimal point?

 

[ostin86]

Now they are saying the Bulldogs are preparing to throw $14 million at the Trbojevic brothers and Fifita.

Lol.

What 5 year million dollar contracts for all 3?? Lmfao

 

[heartly87]

They've been claiming for the last 2 years that Cronk was only on 600k, now he retires the expect jump in what they claim he frees up has occured.

Not to mention that they also spent part of that signing Flanagan from the Sharks to replace Cronk

This is the same shit they always do. They had Pearce, Keary and Cronk all on the books at the same time and it was ok with the NRL. Then Pearce spat the dummy and they had a free million to spend spend spend. If the Broncos can't keep Fifita and either souths or easts can then the game is done as a legitimate comp.

I will always love and watch the Broncos but i am quickly becoming a hater of the game. The NRL is corrupt, its obvious. The media has to much influence, the cap is not real and there is obvious manipulation in judiciary/onfield decision making.