‘Part of the theatre’ Hasler responds to Fifita bombshell

Penrith and any other club wanting to add David Fifita to their roster will have the chance after the Gold Coast star officially told the Titans he would leave the club at the end of the season.

Fifita met with Titans officials on Wednesday night and decided not to activate the final two years of his contract that could have delivered him $1m a season.

Having already met with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and with offers tabled from other Sydney clubs including the Roosters, Fifita is set to join one of them from 2025 onwards.

While disappointed to lose his star, Titans coach Des Hasler said it was “part of the football merry-go-round”.

“I guess it’s disappointing, but also it’s all part of the game, it’s all part of the theatre,“ Hasler said.

“It’s part of the football merry-go-round - players come and go. The time has come to an end and he’s going to move to Sydney and pursue his footy down there.

“I think the players will just get on with it, to tell you the truth. What can they do? Of course he will play (this week) and he will play well.

“The club is growing. So far this year the results probably don’t lean towards that, but those who know footy; there is something happening here.

“We will continue along that path and keep moving forward.”

The Panthers are considered the frontrunners to land the 24-year-old who could replace outgoing forward James Fisher-Harris.

Clearly labelled Fifita a “marquee player” earlier this week and one his club would be keen to secure amid a raft of departures and was happy to look outside Penrith’s nursery of players in the quest for more premiership success.

“It’s been probably four years I reckon but still we are always looking for other players too,” he said.

“We are always looking to evolve, that’s the challenge – especially when you’re losing players. If you just stay the same, you’re going to get passed.

Fifita’s partner, Shaylee Bent, who plays for the Titans in the NRLW, is also from the Penrith region. She is also off contract.

An offer from the Panthers is believed to be worth about $850,000 a season for three years, while the Roosters have tabled a four-year deal worth slightly less.

Fifita signed a three-year extension worth a reported $1m a season in November last year, but it included a clause allowing him to walk away from the club.