Penrith were the warm favourites to land Fifita, offering a deal rumoured to be around $850,000 a year.
According to reports, the David Fifita sweepstakes was won by the Sydney Roosters. The devastating backrower will sign a four-year contract with the Tricolours starting in 2025. Fifita’s contract with the Roosters is reportedly for $3.3 million spread over four years, according to the SMH. His choice was made in the hours following his announcement to the Gold Coast Titans that he would not be exercising his option to stay with the team past the 2024 campaign.
Penrith were the warm favourites to land Fifita, offering a deal rumoured to be around $850,000 a year.
However, Fifita has decided to head to Sydney’s eastern suburbs despite the Roosters offering slightly less money than Penrith did.
Fifita sat down with his manager Michael Hudson on Wednesday night to discuss his future, deciding to turn down an extension of his $1 million per-season contract at the Titans.
The damaging backrower had a clause in his contract that meant he had until the start of Round 10 (Thursday night) to opt out of staying a further two years with the club.
Earlier, Titans coach Des Hasler confirmed the crushing blow that Fifita would leave the club on Thursday.
Hasler — who only joined the club this season — admitted he was “disappointed” that his star man will be departing.
“It’s all part of the game, a part of the theatre and a part of the football merry-go-round,” Hasler said to reporters on Thursday.
“Players come and go and move club to club all the time. David’s a wonderful player and he’s been a good aquisition for the club but he’s decided his time has come to an end.
“He’s going to move to Sydney and pursue his footy interest down there, and I wish him all the best.”
Hasler conceded it will change the Titans team moving forward, but explained “that’s what recruitment is about”, signalling the club will hit the open market.
The former Sea Eagles and Bulldogs mentor did however defend Fifita after a reporter asked if his teammates were upset the back rower was “abandoning the ship”.
“I think it’s unfair to say he’s abandoning the ship, it’s not about abandoning the ship. He’s made a decision and everybody knew what was on the table,” Hasler replied.
