Latest news with #DavidFifita
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meninga snares key figure from Titans to join Panthers premiership-winner in Perth
Mal Meninga has reportedly poached the Gold Coast Titans' long-time NRL recruitment manager to join him at the Perth Bears - a move that could pave the way for a play at superstar forwards Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and David Fifita. The Titans announced on Wednesday that Ezra Howe has left his role as the club's recruitment guru after seven years. He's reportedly set to join Meninga in Perth after they worked together at the Titans when Meninga was the club's high performance and culture consultant. Howe was responsible for helping convince Fa'asuamaleaui and Fifita to join the Titans from Melbourne and Brisbane respectively. The Queensland State of Origin forwards are both off contract at the end of 2026, which coincides with the Bears entering the NRL in 2027. With Howe now at the Bears, it could be a huge advantage if the Perth team makes a play for Fa'asuamaleaui and Fifita like expected. The Titans confirmed Howe's immediate departure on Wednesday, saying in a statement: 'The Titans can confirm that long-term recruitment manager Ezra Howe has finished in the role he's held for the past seven seasons. Howe joined the Titans in 2019 and has made a significant contribution to the club. Aside from the recruitment role, he's also helped develop the club's junior elite pathways programs. 'Howe will finish up his duties at the Titans effective immediately. The club wishes Ezra and his family all the best for the future and thank him for the significant contribution he has made over a long period of time on the Gold Coast. His replacement will be announced in due course.' Howe will be another key piece in Meninga's coaching and recruitment team in Perth after he recently signed Ben Gardiner from the Panthers to be his assistant coach. Gardiner is currently head coach of Samoa and an assistant under Ivan Cleary at Penrith, and was part of the Panthers' premiership-winning teams in 2023 and 2024. He previously coached the North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup, and is keen to continue the connection in Perth. "I can't wait to work closely with new people in Western Australia and build a hugely successful team over the next five years as we promote rugby league and grow the game," Gardiner said last month. Meninga added: "I look forward to Ben helping us to build a club and culture which will set the Bears' future on the right path. He has worked with some great clubs and teams, at premiership and representative level, and he also has Bears DNA to add to his prolific experience." RELATED: Gorden Tallis responds after Billy Slater tipped to make sad decision Cameron Smith opens up on family dilemma at heart of coaching call Meanwhile, Meninga has revealed he's eyeing Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston in what would be a huge signing coup. Preston is contracted with Canterbury until the end of 2027, and Meninga views him as a potential leader for the Bears - his junior club. 'He's certainly on my radar, no doubt,' Meninga told . 'He is a great player – I'm a fan of Jacob. And being a Norths junior doubles our interest. Being an ex-Bear is an important link. We are starting fresh but to have that Bears' DNA is a bonus. 'Why wouldn't we look at investing in him down the track? He's got to be off contract, obviously, but there's no reason why we shouldn't. I'd be very keen through our channels to have a chat with his management down the track. We can't just think about 2027, we have to think beyond that as well." Storm superstars Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen (both off contract after 2026) have continually been linked to the Bears, however they've both denied interest. Payne Haas would also be a prime target, while Selwyn Cobbo seems the most likely high-profile signing after he recently inked a one-year deal with the Dolphins for 2026 that makes him a free agent when Perth enters the comp a year later.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gold Coast Titans v Manly Sea Eagles: Live scores, updates, SuperCoach analysis
The Titans have locked up rising rugby convert Jojo Fifita as Des Hasler deals with an injury crisis as he fights for his future on the Gold Coast. Hasler will hand NRL debuts to reserve grade journeymen Josh Patston and Tuki Simpkins in Friday night's grudge match with former club Manly at Cbus Super Stadium. Having lost eight of their past nine games to fall into last spot on the NRL ladder, the Titans are now reeling with 10 players unavailable for selection. Queensland duo Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika are on Origin duty while Keano Kini (neck), Fifita (hand), Carter Gordon (neck), Jaylan de Groot (hamstring) and Brock Gray (knee) are among those on the injured list. There is conjecture around the availability of $1 million star David Fifita after he underwent recent ankle surgery while Harley Smith-Shields (hamstring) and Tony Francis (knee) are also not playing. To make matters worse for Hasler against his old club, the Sea Eagles will be boosted by the availability of axed Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and returning Dally M Medal superstar Tom Trbojevic from injury. Manly coach Anthony Seibold said 'DCE' was focused on bouncing back against the Titans. 'He's obviously disappointed but he's had a great week's preparation with us,' he said. 'There's disappointment there but a great deal of pride in captaining his state 20 times and playing 26 games for Queensland. 'Chez has been a really good leader for Manly for a long time. He hasn't got anything to prove. 'We wouldn't play Tom if he wasn't 100 per cent fit. We held him back a little longer and we've managed him really well.' The Titans are the NRL's worst defensive team, leaking 382 points at 31.8 per game, and were horrible in last week's 44-14 loss to the Broncos. In the days leading up to the dreadful Broncos performance, Gold Coast's owners guaranteed Hasler's future is safe amid reports they were lining up a new coach. Despite their bizarre statement, speculation around Hasler's future will likely continue if the Titans' terrible form continues. But there was some good news for the club this week with backline sensation Jojo Fifita re-signing until the end of 2027. Fifita is due back from a hand injury next week and said he wanted to remain on the Gold Coast. 'This means a lot to me,' he said. 'This club has given me a lot of opportunities to grow as a player both on and off the field. 'I'm really excited to see what the next chapter has to offer.'
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Unjustified': Legend urges Fifita to leave Titans as tensions boil over with feeder club in ugly saga
A rugby league legend has urged a David Fifita to depart the Titans while Gold Coast powerbrokers are reportedly infighting with their own feeder club the Ipswich Jets. That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting Titans powerbrokers contacted Jets powerbrokers to vent frustrations regarding their public support of the maligned backrower. Jets chief Steve Johnson also reportedly claimed Fifita was being played out of position by Gold Coast coach Des Hasler, adding fuel to the fire. Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. It comes after Fifita turned out for the Jets in Queensland Cup, having been dropped by Hasler and playing reserve grade while having a painkilling injection on his ankle. Fifita was criticised for his performance for Ipswich, but Johnson threw his support behind the $1 million edge forward. 'The criticism of David is unjustified,' Johnson said. 'Our starting front-rowers had four and five hit-ups, while Dave made 19 tackles with no misses. 'In fairness to Dave, if you watch the game, he was heavily marked and had three and four blokes gang-tackling him at every opportunity. 'We had our pants pulled down by a very good team that were bolstered by Cowboys NRL players. Dave committed totally to the team which says a lot about him as a person.' Fifita was reportedly sent to see a surgeon following his Jets appearance, with a clean-out surgery on his ankle looming and a month on the sidelines. As Fifita's situation at the Titans continues to bubble, league legend Scott Sattler urged the former Maroons star to leave the Gold Coast. Reports have surfaced the Titans have shopped the gun back rower to rival clubs, and Sattler, who played a role in building the Gold Coast's first roster, has urged him to leave the club. 'As much as it would pain me to see him leave the Gold Coast, at 25 he has so much upside in the rest of his career and I'd love to see him go to a club without a lot of comforts,' he said. 'I think he is at a point in his career where if he actually gets out of his comfort zone and goes to another club, outside of south east Queensland, he will flourish. Absolutely flourish. 'We will start to see the best of Dave Fifita. It's about taking a bit of ownership and not having those creature comforts around you.' Fifita has previously come desperately close to departing the Gold Coast, backflipping on a three-year deal with the Roosters in 2024.
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
'Fake news' Titans blast Fifita rumours
NRL: The Gold Coast Titans have dismissed rumours that they are shopping David Fifita who is set for a sideline stint with an injury.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL news: David Fifita theory shot down amid ugly claims surrounding Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler
Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has shot down suggestions David Fifita's relationship with coach Des Hasler is "untenable", amid reports the forward has been shopped around to rival clubs. Fifita was spectacularly axed for the Magic Round loss to the Bulldogs after paying the price for the Titans' 50-18 thrashing by North Queensland the week before. It came after Fifita reportedly made a stunning request to play on the left edge of the Gold Coast attack, where teammate Beau Fermor has been impressing this year. It's understood Hasler rejected Fifita's request and dumped him to reserve grade, where the former Maroons forward featured for the Ipswich Jets in their 32-0 loss to Northern Pride over the weekend, before suffering a fresh injury blow. The Gold Coast titans have responded to reports David Fifita's relationship with coach Des Hasler has become untenable. Pic: Getty Fifita had pre-season surgery on his troublesome ankle but it's since emerged that the 25-year-old has been experiencing complications that have required pain-killing injections. Fifita has reportedly been playing through pain for the opening nine rounds, which would explain why his form has been so inconsistent in 2025. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The hulking forward has since been ruled out of Gold Coast's NRL round 10 clash at Newcastle on Friday night and the Jets' home clash with the Townsville Blackhawks on Sunday. No timeframe has been given on an expected return date for Fifita at the Titans but Code Sports went as far as suggesting that he may have played his last game for the club due to a breakdown in the relationship with coach Hasler. But Gold Coast skipper Fa'asuamaleaui - who is close with Fifita - rubbished those suggestions and praised the way the Maroons forward handled his controversial axing, before the latest injury setback. Fifita's attitude has also come under scrutiny from critics, with another narrative emerging that he hasn't been putting in maximum effort at training. But Fa'asuamaleaui has defended his teammate and says those claims about Fifita are simply not true. "Dave was really good last week with all the media talk and a lot of things being said," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "He turned up with the right attitude and got us ready to play the game on the weekend." Hasler addressed the star's axing after the Magic Round loss to the Bulldogs and said Fifita "had some thinking to do in some areas" of his game. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement RELATED: Titans captain backs coach after David Fifita axing But Fa'asuamaleaui said his teammate's relationship with the coach is not the issue, and backed Hasler's call after accepting that Fifita was not playing to the incredible potential he's capable of. "There's some areas he needs to work on in his game and sort some stuff away from (training)," the Titans skipper said about Fifita. "They definitely get along. Des has backed him since the beginning." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Titans have now lost five games in a row and Hasler has started Fifita from the bench in four out of six of the matches he's played. But Fa'asuamaleaui says the entire squad has to accept responsibility for their poor form this season, and revealed he's made sure to check on Fifita's mental wellbeing after his well documented struggles. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui says teammate and good friend David Fifita has handled his axing at the Titans well and denied reports he's had a falling out with coach Des Hasler. Pic: Getty "I'm trying to keep him up and making sure he's okay and how his personal life is and his head ...being there as a mate," the Gold Coast captain said. "The coach is the coach for a reason and makes decisions for what's best for the team and club. Whatever the coach says, I back." Titans CEO Steve Mitchell has also moved to squash reports that Fifita is being shopped around to rival clubs after insisting he remains a huge part of the club's future plans. Fifita is one of Gold Coast's top earners and his $1 million-a-season deal does not run out until the end of 2026. Reports claim Fifita would be willing to take a pay cut to move to a rival club but the Titans say they want him to stay and have not granted the forward permission to speak with other teams. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement 'Dave is an important part of the roster,' Titans CEO Mitchell told Code Sports. 'We expect him to have a big role to play moving forward.' Fifita extended with the Titans last year after backflipping on a big-money move to join the Roosters. He was also linked with a return to the Broncos where salary cap restraints were an obvious issue before ultimately reaffirming his commitment to the Titans. with AAP
