The Titans’ decision to hand David Fifita an exit clause in his contract has been put under the microscope as a multi-club race emerges for his signature.
Fifita has a trigger clause in his contract that has a looming deadline, and if he doesn’t take up the option he is free to leave the Gold Coast club ahead of the 2025 season.
The first club to sit down with the backrow gun was reportedly the Panthers, who have tabled a contract worth $850,000 per-season according to the SMH.
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Then came Shane Flanagan and the Dragons armed with Zac Lomax’s $850,000 salary they were set to pay him next season.
But the newest suitor who has come to the table is the Roosters, who have reportedly tabled a deal worth $825,000 that is extends across the next four seasons.
Fifita’s decision will be one of the biggest market moves the NRL has seen in years, but rugby league legend James Graham was left stunned by the Titans’ mismanagement.
He questioned why Gold Coast powerbrokers would ever insert a clause into the contract of one of the game’s best forwards that would allow him to walk.
“Why was he given that clause? I think the management of football clubs, just deny these crazy clauses,” Graham said on NRL360 on Monday night.
“Strong clubs don’t allow this.”
Gorden Tallis added: “soon Santa Claus will be included in a contract”.
Fifita previously had a clause inserted in his contract linked to coach Justin Holbrook who was axed in 2023, rendering the backrower a free agent before renegotiating a contract.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield revealed Fifita’s current clause was handed to him in a “desperate” attempt to keep him at the club in the short term.
“To get the deal over the line when they were in a desperate position, the Titans obviously thought they were going to be going well early this season and he’d want to take up the two years,” Rothfield said.
“The interesting thing is everyone is saying there’s a cut off point on Thursday, there isn’t really. Remember Mitchell Moses had the exact same clause.
“When the clause expired he kept on going and negotiating… he eventually stayed, so it’s not to say if he doesn’t re-sign he’s leaving the Titans.”
Meanwhile, Tallis questioned why Fifita would take a pay cut to join a rival club after leaving the Broncos to sign a million dollar contract at the Titans.
“He was at a powerful club, probably the most powerful club in Brisbane, a chance to win titles. What did he leave for?” Tallis said.
“Now he’s going to leave for another club to win a grand final for less… it doesn’t make sense to me.”
However, Graham pointed out the talented forward could be looking to win a premiership and as such increase his contract value.
“In terms of money, here’s what he might be thinking, lets go to the Roosters and Panthers, increase the probability of winning a comp,” Graham said.
“My value goes up again and then I got to the highest bidder.”
Tallis then questioned why the Panthers didn’t hand back rower Viliame Kikau a contract of equal value to retain his services prior to his departure for the Bulldogs.
However, Penrith have had salary cap space open up following the departures of Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris who was reportedly earning around $1 million per-season.
Meanwhile, other stars like Api Koroisau, Spencer Leniu, Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton have all departed.
“At some stage the pressure on their development system and pathways just bursts, and they don’t have a big second row forward,”
“It’s not a like for like replacement for Fisher-Harris… they couldn’t afford to (keep Kikai) at the time.”
When asked what club he’d be signing with, Graham replied: “whoever presents the best… thinking on the spot, Penrith.
“Looking at the Roosters, their window is now and I think most people have concerns around their roster moving forward with some high-profile players moving on.
“But the Panthers are set up for success and continued success, if his goal is to win the premiership in this deal, I think the probability of that happening the odds are shorter at the Panthers then at the Roosters.”
Originally published as ‘Don’t allow this’: Titans’ Fifita clause slammed as legend backs premiers in signing race