Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
The Broncos are weighing up a dramatic eleventh-hour bid for Gold Coast star David Fifita after Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler’s Dolphins defections cleared $1.5 million in Brisbane’s salary cap.
News Corp can reveal the Broncos have emerged as a late contender for Fifita’s signature as they consider getting one back on their south east Queensland rivals the Titans by luring the barnstorming forward back to Red Hill.
Fifita, 23, has multimillion dollar offers on the table from Gold Coast and Canberra, but the Broncos have been keeping an eye on negotiations with a view to entering the race for the Queensland Origin star.
The Broncos were last month approached about their interest in Fifita, who is off-contract at season’s end, but were hamstrung by salary cap constraints with bumper offers on the table for Farnworth and Flegler.
However with Farnworth and Flegler pledging their futures to the Dolphins last week, Brisbane has bolted back into the mix for Fifita – one of the NRL’s most damaging forwards.
Broncos officials have been quietly working in the background on a deal for Fifita after being approached by his management to gauge their interest.
At the time it was lukewarm given they were battling to hold onto Farnworth and Flegler, but the duo’s decision to join the Dolphins has given the Broncos breathing room.
Former Broncos skipper Corey Parker believes Fifita could benefit from some mentoring if he opted for a Red Hill resurrection.
“David is certainly a player you would consider to put in your roster, but at what cost?” Parker said.
“That’s the key.
“I actually feel for David on a personal level – he needs to go to a club that has an established and strong culture along with experience in the spine.
“What does David Fifita want to be in his NRL career? That’s the question for him.”
News of the Broncos’ potential interest will be a body blow to the Titans and Raiders, who had hoped to have a response from Fifita this week.
It is understood Fifita held talks with his management on the Gold Coast on Tuesday but there is every chance he will delay a decision as the Broncos consider making an official offer.
Fifita’s future will have ramifications for his partner Shaylee Bent, one of the game’s elite female players.
