Latest news with #Fifita
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Could Galvin go west? Fifita, Williams also a chance
SIX PLAYERS OFF CONTRACT AFTER 2026 WHO COULD BE TARGETED BY THE BEARS: * Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers - five-eighth) The prodigious five-eighth made headlines for his decision not to consider a contract extension to remain at Wests Tigers and is still without a home for 2027. Parramatta are considered the front-runner for his signature but may now have some competition. Galvin is the kind of player around whom a new franchise could build a long-term future and at only 19, his stocks are likely to only rise. He's already shown plenty in a season-and-a-bit, with a dangerous running game, great pass and the potential to pack on size. * Harry Grant (Melbourne - hooker) Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes has stated he's not interested in a move west but Storm teammate Grant looms as a natural target. There's no better hooker in the NRL than the Storm captain, whose leadership qualities would be highly attractive for a franchise building from the ground up. Grant is the kind of player who lifts those around him, with a high defensive work rate and an eye for the game that he honed during his apprenticeship under Storm legend Cam Smith. * Payne Haas (Brisbane - prop) The Brisbane behemoth is one of the NRL's most fearsome front-rowers and was linked with a move away from the Broncos and to rugby union the last time his contract came up for renewal during the 2023 season. Haas has a complicated family situation so may not be keen on a big move to the other side of the country, but the Bears will no doubt ask the question of this generational prop forward. * Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne - fullback) Another Storm star whose future is uncertain beyond 2026. The flying fullback has a mutual option in his contract that would permit him to stay at the club for 2027, but he can still negotiate with rivals for that season from November. After a cruel run of injuries, Papenhuyzen has shown flashes of his best over the past 18 months. He's a human highlights reel when he's on song, and has the kind of marketability that the Dolphins got from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on their entry into the league. * David Fifita (Gold Coast - second-row) The timing of the Bears announcement must surely have intrigued Fifita, who was dropped from Gold Coast's first-grade team only last week. Coach Des Hasler has since insisted he maintains a good relationship with Fifita but the former State of Origin representative will nevertheless be able to field offers from November, if the Titans situation doesn't sour sooner than that. Fifita came within a whisker of moving to Sydney for 2025, and his big hits and try-scoring ability would help draw new fans to the game. * George Williams (Warrington - five-eighth/halfback) Williams was the last English half to truly shine in the NRL when he helped Canberra to a preliminary final berth in the 2020 season. A bitter exit from the Raiders followed, but not through lack of talent, and his contract with English side Warrington expires at the end of 2026. Williams has ties to Perth given his father lives there, and is Wolves captain under Sam Burgess, who has flagged his interest in coaching Perth.
7NEWS
07-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Des Hasler dishes on David Fifita relationship amid exit rumours
A defiant Des Hasler has backed himself to help dig Gold Coast out of a hole, while insisting David Fifita remains part of the Titans' long-term plans. Sat second-last after nine rounds, the pressure is intensifying on Hasler with the Titans on a five-match losing streak. Questions have also been raised over the future of Fifita, who was dropped last week and will undergo keyhole surgery on his ankle on Wednesday. But as his team flew out for Friday's clash with Newcastle, Hasler insisted the current predicament was nothing new to him. 'It's all part of it. I've been here before in these positions. It's called being in the kitchen when the heat is on,' Hasler said. 'We've just got to ride through it.' Asked how he planned to help the Titans dig their way through it, Hasler responded: 'Start winning some games'. 'That starts this Friday, which won't be easy,' he said. 'They're in a situation where they have had a win after a couple of losses. Five-day turnaround will be challenging. 'But we will get down there and give it our best shot. 'I believe in these players.' Signed by the Titans on a three-year deal that began in 2024, Hasler showed signs of turning the club around in the second half of last season. But they have started poorly this year, plagued by injuries with the coach also unhappy his team is one of the most penalised in the league for high tackles. He pleaded with fans for patience as the Titans got their troops back on deck, while adamant the effort had been there from his side. As to Fifita, the damaging second-rower has played limited minutes off the bench for the majority of this year, while also requiring pain-killing injections before games. He was relegated to playing Queensland Cup for Ipswich last weekend, before being sent to see a specialist. A report also emerged on Wednesday that the 25-year-old had been shopped to rival clubs, less than a year on from his decision to backflip on the Sydney Roosters to stay at the Titans. But Hasler insisted the former Queensland State of Origin star remained a part of the Titans' future. 'Yep, big part of our plans,' Hasler said when asked if he wanted Fifita at the club long-term. 'Our relationship is fine. 'Everything is good, everything is fine. We're going well, we want to go better. So there are no issues there. 'Dave just needed to work on some areas and had to think a few things through. We've done that.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'The heat is on' but Hasler remains cool under pressure
'The heat is on' but Hasler remains cool under pressure A defiant Des Hasler has backed himself to help dig Gold Coast out of a hole, while insisting David Fifita remains part of the Titans' long-term plans. Sat second-last after nine rounds, the pressure is intensifying on Hasler with the Titans on a five-match losing streak. Questions have also been raised over the future of Fifita, who was dropped last week and will undergo keyhole surgery on his ankle on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But as his team flew out for Friday's clash with Newcastle, Hasler insisted the current predicament was nothing new to him. "It's all part of it. I've been here before in these positions. It's called being in the kitchen when the heat is on," Hasler said. "We've just got to ride through it." Asked how he planned to help the Titans dig their way through it, Hasler responded: "Start winning some games". "That starts this Friday, which won't be easy," he said. "They're in a situation where they have had a win after a couple of losses. Five-day turnaround will be challenging. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "But we will get down there and give it our best shot. "I believe in these players." Signed by the Titans on a three-year deal that began in 2024, Hasler showed signs of turning the club around in the second half of last season. But they have started poorly this year, plagued by injuries with the coach also unhappy his team is one of the most penalised in the league for high tackles. He pleaded with fans for patience as the Titans got their troops back on deck, while adamant the effort had been there from his side. As to Fifita, the damaging second-rower has played limited minutes off the bench for the majority of this year, while also requiring pain-killing injections before games. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He was relegated to playing Queensland Cup for Ipswich last weekend, before being sent to see a specialist. Despite rumours to the contrary, Des Hasler says David Fifita has a future with the Titans. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS) A report also emerged on Wednesday that the 25-year-old had been shopped to rival clubs, less than a year on from his decision to backflip on the Sydney Roosters to stay at the Titans. But Hasler insisted the former Queensland State of Origin star remained a part of the Titans' future. "Yep, big part of our plans," Hasler said when asked if he wanted Fifita at the club long-term. "Our relationship is fine. "Everything is good, everything is fine. We're going well, we want to go better. So there are no issues there. "Dave just needed to work on some areas and had to think a few things through. We've done that."
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'The heat is on' but Hasler remains cool under pressure
A defiant Des Hasler has backed himself to help dig Gold Coast out of a hole, while insisting David Fifita remains part of the Titans' long-term plans. Sat second-last after nine rounds, the pressure is intensifying on Hasler with the Titans on a five-match losing streak. Questions have also been raised over the future of Fifita, who was dropped last week and will undergo keyhole surgery on his ankle on Wednesday. But as his team flew out for Friday's clash with Newcastle, Hasler insisted the current predicament was nothing new to him. "It's all part of it. I've been here before in these positions. It's called being in the kitchen when the heat is on," Hasler said. "We've just got to ride through it." Asked how he planned to help the Titans dig their way through it, Hasler responded: "Start winning some games". "That starts this Friday, which won't be easy," he said. "They're in a situation where they have had a win after a couple of losses. Five-day turnaround will be challenging. "But we will get down there and give it our best shot. "I believe in these players." Signed by the Titans on a three-year deal that began in 2024, Hasler showed signs of turning the club around in the second half of last season. But they have started poorly this year, plagued by injuries with the coach also unhappy his team is one of the most penalised in the league for high tackles. He pleaded with fans for patience as the Titans got their troops back on deck, while adamant the effort had been there from his side. As to Fifita, the damaging second-rower has played limited minutes off the bench for the majority of this year, while also requiring pain-killing injections before games. He was relegated to playing Queensland Cup for Ipswich last weekend, before being sent to see a specialist. A report also emerged on Wednesday that the 25-year-old had been shopped to rival clubs, less than a year on from his decision to backflip on the Sydney Roosters to stay at the Titans. But Hasler insisted the former Queensland State of Origin star remained a part of the Titans' future. "Yep, big part of our plans," Hasler said when asked if he wanted Fifita at the club long-term. "Our relationship is fine. "Everything is good, everything is fine. We're going well, we want to go better. So there are no issues there. "Dave just needed to work on some areas and had to think a few things through. We've done that."
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
David Fifita linked with two NRL rivals after Titans axing saga
Titans forward David Fifita may have played his last game for the club, with the dropped star reportedly shopped to rival clubs since his axing from first grade. Code Sports reported Fifita has been shopped to rival clubs in a sign that his relationship with Des Hasler and the club has all but become untenable. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Fifita's future has been up in the air since he was axed by Hasler for Magic Round after a bizarre request to play on the left in Beau Fermor's spot saw him dumped to reserve grade. The former Queensland Origin star turned out for the Jets last week in a loss that saw them score zero points, while the Titans lost their fifth straight game to the Bulldogs in the NRL. Fifita has since been sidelined with an ankle injury that saw him seek a specialist's opinion on an injury he has been battling since undergoing surgery last year. Code Sports confirmed at least two NRL clubs have been informally sounded out about their potential interest in Fifita. The clubs have been told he is willing to take a pay cut to leave the Titans. The Titans said they had not formally granted Fifita permission to speak with rivals, but his future has been a talking point among NRL clubs recently. 'Dave is an important part of the roster,' Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell said. 'We expect him to have a big role to play moving forward.' Fifita, 25, is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2026 on a deal worth about $1 million per season after backflipping on a deal to join the Roosters last year. After reneging on the Roosters deal, Fifita failed to score a try for the Titans in the final 10 games of the 2024 season and was axed by Queensland coach Billy Slater. Fifita has been benched in four of six NRL games this season, further increasing tension with Hasler. Prior to re-signing with the Titans, Fifita was linked to a potential return to the Broncos, but their salary cap issues makes a return to Red Hill highly unlikely. Fifita was also linked to the Raiders before recommitting to the Titans and could be a replacement for Josh Papali'i when he retires, given most people see a move to the front row as inevitable for Fifita to get his career back on track. It is a stunning fall from grace for the 25-year-old who was regarded as the brightest forward prospect in the game while at the Broncos, which saw him ink a record Titans deal worth $1.5 million a season for three years in 2021. However, after 50 tries in 132 games for the Broncos and Titans, Fifita's promising career is now at a crossroads heading into the second half of his 20s.
