https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...a5618ca6ea1220
NRL 2022: Gold Coast Titans insist David Fifita is happy at the club and they want to re-sign him
Travis Meyn
13/02/2022
Mal Meninga has rubbished claims $3.5 million man David Fifita is unhappy at the Gold Coast and revealed the Titans are ready to launch contract negotiations to re-sign the NRL try-scoring sensation before he hits the open market.
A leaner and meaner Fifita made his first appearance of the year for the Indigenous All Stars on Saturday night in the lead-up to his second season at the Titans.
It was a whirlwind debut campaign at the Titans for Fifita in 2021, with the 21-year-old embroiled in an off-field incident during the pre-season which saw him fined $10,000 by the NRL before going on to score a club record 17 tries as the Gold Coast played finals for the first time since 2016.
Fifita’s sizzling early-season form faded later in the year as he battled a painful rib injury and was relegated to the bench, a move he was not entirely happy about.
He also moved back up the M1 to live in Brisbane, prompting suggestions he could look to return to the Broncos following his controversial exit from Red Hill in 2020.
Fifita is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2023, but rival clubs can poach him from November this year and he is expected to attract enormous interest if he hits the open market.
But Titans culture chief Mal Meninga is intent on not allowing that to happen.
“Absolutely, we’ve got him until the end of 2023 but clubs can start talking to him sooner rather than later,” Meninga said when asked if the Titans would look to extend his contract.
“We’re really keen to keep him at the club. We know he’s very happy there and has mixed in really well. He is part of the club. We’re hoping with the right mentoring and relationships at the club that he will find it very hard to leave.”
At his barnstorming best, Fifita was near unstoppable last year, scoring two hat-tricks in what was an incredible season with the ball in hand.
But his defensive efforts have been questioned and Meninga said Fifita was working hard on improving his game ahead of a critical season for the Titans.
“Dave obviously wants to improve. That’s one of the reasons he came to the club, he wants to become a better player,” he said.
“There’s a few things Dave can work on, but not a lot of things.
“He’s worked on his fitness, which will certainly help his game. The fitter you are then the more mentally strong you are. That will help him get more touches of the footy and help defensively, which is crucial in any club’s preparation.
“There is no secret that defence wins comps. That’s certainly true and that’s a key area for Dave.”
The Titans have re-signed the nucleus of their squad for the upcoming years.
Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2026), AJ Brimson (2026), Moeaki Fotuaika (2024), Jayden Campbell (2024) and Toby Sexton (2024) have all committed to the club.
Fa’asuamaleaui knocked back a big-money bid from the Dolphins and said he hoped Fifita would stay with him after they left the Storm and Broncos respectively last year to join the Titans.
“He is my best mate and I want the best for him but I’d love for him to stay,” he said.
“He is a big part of this club and us growing together as a young group.
“When I think of him I think he is a Titan.
“I’m hoping he stays but I’ll be happy with whatever he does because he’s my best mate.”
Fifita is targeting a return to the Titans’ starting side in 2022 and while he remains close to the Broncos, said he was enjoying his time at the Gold Coast.
“I’m really enjoying my time here at the club,” he said.
“Brissy is only down the road so I’m not far away from my family. I’m still really close with the Broncos boys and staff there, but I’m glad I’m down here with the (Titans) boys.
“I’m here at the moment and enjoying it. I’ve still got a couple more years.
“I’m really training hard and getting my body right to put me on the best foot forward to get to where we want to be this year.”
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Not surprising to see Travis Meyn fabricating
claims that Fifita is
unhappy in the first line to make up a narrative and stir the pot. Anything to help the Courier Mail darlings up the road.