David Fifita’s future on the Gold Coast is up in the air amid reports the Titans superstar is in talks with three-peat champions, the Panthers.
Meanwhile, Angus Crichton was all but certain to depart the Roosters at the end of this season but that could change after the second-rower’s red-hot start to the year.
And Tevita Pangai Junior is in talks with a shock club as he eyes a return to the NRL.
Read on for the latest NRL Transfer Whispers.
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PANGAI JUNIOR EYES NRL RETURN… WITH THE STORM
Eight months after announcing his retirement from the NRL, Tevita Pangai Junior is set to quit professional boxing to return to the game.
That is according to News Corp’s Pete Badel, who reports Pangai Junior has had preliminary talks with Craig Bellamy after his management reached out to the Storm coach.
Pangai Junior’s brother and manager, David, confirmed to News Corp that there has been contact with the Storm.
“Craig Bellamy has indicated he is keen, but there’s been no offer from the Storm,” he said.
“There’s interest, but nothing is signed, so we’ll keep talking with them.”
It’s a damatic change of heart for Pangai Junior, who walked out on the final year of his contract at the Bulldogs — said to be worth $750,000 — to pursue a professional boxing career last August.
He was adament that he was done with the NRL and would not entertain a return… until he joined Queensland Cup side Souths Logan Magpies and had informal talks with Broncos coach Kevin Walters about a mid-season return.
The Broncos, however, have been held back by their salary cap.
Pangai Junior has won two professional fights since leaving the NRL and will step into the ring again later this month.
But he told News Corp that after this next fight he will focus on an NRL return.
“I’m going back full-time to rugby league,” he said.
“I feel like I have a point to prove to myself, there’s unfinished business.
“If I have to go the tough route and start again through the Queensland Cup or reserve grade, I’ll do that.
“I have spoken to people in the game about my lack of consistency and I want to put that to bed and be a consistent footy player.
“I will try and get back to the NRL somehow — I will go the tough route and start again.”
Speaking on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast, News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield put his support behind the potential deal.
“Wouldn’t he be some addition to that Storm side that are already flying. I don’t know what their cap space is, but I guess they wouldn’t be talking unless there was genuine interest,” he said.
But host Laurie Daley questioned whether Pangai Junior would fit into the Storm’s culture.
“You look at all the blokes they get, they’ve got that work-rate and ability to go effort on effort on effort,” he said.
“Tevita to me doesn’t sort of suit their system, but he’d be a welcome addition because at his best — if Craig can get him to his best — you’re going to get someone that’s a handful.”
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ROOSTERS TO CHANGE TUNE ON IN-FORM CRICHTON
Angus Crichton could be in line for a new Roosters deal after his impressive start to the season.
Crichton was in talks late last year over an immediate code-switch until Rugby Australia pulled its offer from the table.
His future remained under a dark cloud though coming into this season — the last on his contract — and it was thought the 28-year-old would end up going to rugby next year.
However, his form in the opening two months of the competition has forced the Roosters to re-think their stance on Crichton, according to News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield.
“I think they’re going to reverse that decision,” he told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
Crichton was one of the competition’s premier second-rowers until some off-field issues forced him to take a break from the game. He returned to the field just over 12 months ago via reserve grade and has now played himself back into contention for State of Origin — and a contract extension.
The Roosters are flushed with cash for next season given the looming departures of Luke Keary (retirement), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Super League), Joseph Manu and Joseph Sua’ali’i (both rugby union).
And Rothfield believes Crichton is now set to stay with the Tricolours.
“He started the year in NSW Cup. The year before he had that horrible off-season where he was dealing with a lot of personal problems. But he has burst back to form so spectacularly in recent weeks,” he said.
“He looked as though he was heading to rugby union in France or possibly Japan. The Roosters have about $4 million of their salary cap available for next year.
“There’s no question now that they have the money to keep Angus. It does overload them a little with edge forwards and someone might have to go if they’re going to keep him and balance their roster. But he’s just been sensational and he’s a big chance for Origin this year.”
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PANTHERS’ SHOCK PLAY FOR FIFITA
David Fifita is a wanted man, with the Penrith Panthers reportedly set to meet with the Titans forward in Sydney in a shock development.
Fifita has been in outstanding form for the Titans, who are playing much better football of late than their ladder position of 16th suggests.
Fifita has a trigger clause in his contract for next year, but he needs to trigger it by Thursday at 8pm (when Round 10 starts). If he doesn’t, Fifita will be a free to sign with any team for 2025 and beyond.
According to the SMH’s Michael Chammas, Fifita flew into Sydney on Sunday to meet with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
“They’ve expressed interest in his services, it hasn’t gone to the point of an offer, but they do want to meet with David Fifita to discuss his motivation for potentially leaving the Gold Coast Titans,” Chammas said.
“They do have close to a $1 million in the salary cap now available to them.”
The Panthers have lost a raft of players to free agency in recent seasons, with the back-to-back-to-back premiers feeling the salary cap squeeze.
One of those players is star front rower James Fisher-Harris, who is departing Penrith at the end of the season to head to the Warriors, which will clear up close to $1 million a season from the cap as Chammas alluded to.
Despite the fact Fifita could fetch seven figures on the open market, it has been reported that Penrith aren’t willing to offer that much.
Source Agencies
