LOST CAUSE? CHASE FOR FIFITA NEARING AN END
THE Broncos are growing confident they will re-sign young champion David Fifita on a short-term deal in the massive coup needed to stabilise the embattled club.
Fifita, 20, is scheduled to return from a knee injury in the next few weeks.
He has been offered a massive five-year deal by the Gold Coast Titans whose own stocks have risen after they trounced the Broncos on Saturday.
But, while the signing race is far from over, the Broncos appear to be in the box seat with a quirky one-year deal which would enable both parties to catch their breath before a longer contract is discussed for 2022 and beyond.
The Broncos are aware of a management issue with Fifita, whose arrangement with player agent Steve Deacon expires in December.
Because of complications with this issue, Fifita is unlikely to commit to a longterm deal if he stays in Brisbane, but that would buy the Broncos time to sort out their salary cap for a bigger offer down the track.
It may also be a bonus for Fifita because he could assess the future of the Broncos and
Titans next season before making a call.
Club great Wally Lewis laments the lack of guidance for the club’s young forwards who have been badly exposed by the new rules which enhance fast play and reward agile thinking.
“There aren’t a lot of players there providing a lot of guidance for the inexperienced players and that’s where the question has to be answered,” Lewis said.
“We’ve got a whole bunch of young kids that need to be tutored on the field by the more experienced players and that’s just not happening.”