The Gold Coast’s marquee man, David Fifita, is mulling a move to rugby league central with the Roosters and Penrith emerging as his most likely destinations. There are cases to be made for both options – as well as for remaining with the Titans.
The case for Penrith
If David Fifita’s motivation is to win a premiership, there is only one choice.
Penrith have won the past three competitions and the bookmakers have installed them as favourites to extend that streak to four. With Fifita in their side – even factoring in the impending losses of James Fisher-Harris and Jarome Luai – their premiership window remains very much open.
On Sunday, coach Ivan Cleary and Fifita held what is often referred to in rugby league as a secret meeting (the type everyone finds out about). We can only speculate as to what the pitch was, but part of it was likely about unburdening Fifita of the pressure of being the main man.
At the Titans, Fifita carries the responsibility of being one of the club’s highest-paid stars, a heavy load for a player not even part of Des Hasler’s spine. If he joins the premiers, it is a responsibility shared among more than half-a-dozen marquee men including Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Moses Leota. Fifita would become just another important cog in a well-oiled machine.
While the move would require a salary sacrifice, it would leave Fifita far from destitute. The Maroons prop stands to earn $850,000 per season at Penrith, still a handsome sum and a fairer reflection of what a strike back-rower is really worth. Whatever cash he leaves on the table is a small price to pay for success.
The case for the Roosters
Imagine living on the water in Bondi, playing for a footy team that is likely to be a genuine premiership contender, and getting paid a shedload to do so.
