TITANS FACE BATTLE TO KEEP FIFITA

TITANS coach Justin Holbrook claims Broncos rival Kevin Walters is in secret talks with David Fifita as the Queensland derby battle for Gold Coast’s $1m man explodes.

News Corp can reveal Fifita’s partner Shaylee Bent has knocked back an offer from the Raiders – scuppering Canberra’s package-deal poaching plan and virtually ruling the Raiders out of the race for the Queensland Origin hulk.

That leaves the Broncos and Titans in a southeast Queensland dogfight for Fifita (inset) and Holbrook concedes the tug of war has intensified as Brisbane bosses ramp up plans to bring the back-row sensation home to Red Hill.

“The Broncos are definitely keen, 100 per cent,” Holbrook said ahead of the Titans’ season-opener against the

Tigers on Sunday.

“I know ‘Kevvie’ (Walters) has been ringing him and has been talking to him.

“He’s allowed to do that. Dave is off-contract, so that’s fine, the Broncos are entitled to talk to him.

“I’m hearing mixed reports (on Brisbane’s interest).

“On one hand, the Broncos can’t afford him but on the other, their coach is ringing him.

“Why would Kevvie do that if they can’t afford him?”

As revealed by News Corp, the Broncos are considering an eleventhhour bid for Fifita following the Dolphins defections of Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler which has freed up $1.5m in Brisbane’s salary cap.

Now, it appears the Broncos are getting serious. They have yet to make a formal offer, but revelations Walters is in dialogue with Fifita will ring alarm bells for the Titans given the Broncos coach gave the blockbusting forward his State of Origin debut in 2019.

It is understood the Titans’ offer is north of $800,000 a season, while Canberra’s multi-year package is about $900,000 annually.

But Fifita’s girlfriend’s decision to reject the Raiders in recent days is a sign the Green Machine are virtually no hope of pulling off a package deal.

Fifita was expected to decide his future before round 1, but Brisbane’s fresh interest is a curve ball the Titans can do without as Holbrook tries to secure the 23-year-old for 2024 and beyond.

Asked if the Broncos can outbid the Titans, and whether Fifita is truly happy at Parkwood, Holbrook was candid. “I don’t know how that (losing Farnworth and Flegler) affects the Broncos. I don’t know much from their end, other than Kevvie having talks with Dave,” he said.

“I genuinely believe Dave is happy at the Titans.

“He is happy here, but he is such a nice guy that he doesn’t like disappointing anyone and making a big decision on his future can be hard for him.

“I really enjoy coaching Dave and we would love him to be here long term, but he’s a talented player so I can understand why he is in demand.

“I am still confident we can keep Dave. I have felt that way all along, but it is a bit harder now that the season is kicking off.”