The Sydney Morning Herald
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Penrith’s secret meeting with Titans back-rower David Fifita
Michael Chammas
May 5, 2024 — 4.50pm
The Penrith Panthers are set to meet with damaging Titans back-rower David Fifita in Sydney over the next 24 hours as the reigning champions consider entering the market for his services.
After agreeing to release New Zealand prop James Fisher-Harris to the Warriors on compassionate grounds from next season, the Panthers have identified Fifita as a potential replacement in their forward pack.
The departure of Fisher-Harris will free up close to $1 million in Penrith’s salary cap for next year and the club has expressed interest in using some of that money on Fifita.
The Queensland second-rower has an option in his contract with the Titans for next season, but is yet to trigger the deal.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told the Herald Fifita was due to fly into Sydney on Sunday afternoon to catch up with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
Fifita has until kick-off in the opening game of round 10 (this Thursday at 8pm) to take up the option in his Titans deal. Failure to take up the option will result in him becoming a free agent.
Fifita’s partner, Titans NRLW player Shaylee Bent, hails from Glenmore Park just five minutes from Penrith. Fifita has told those close to him that he wants to win a premiership and is considering a move away from the Titans, who are languishing in 16th position after nine rounds.
The Panthers are known for their diligence in managing the salary cap and are unlikely to offer Fifita seven figures if they decide to pursue his services. A meet and greet on Sunday afternoon will be pivotal in determining the next step.
Should discussions progress beyond Sunday’s meeting, the Panthers will considerrestructuring their forward pack to accommodate the arrival of Fifita.
The Panthers have several options with the funds available to them, including pursuing Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
Utoikamanu has clauses in his deal that allow him to leave the Tigers at the end of the year if they fail to make the top eight, or he fails to play at least two Origin games for NSW this year.
The Panthers have placed an emphasis on retaining homegrown talent throughout a successful regime under Cleary and have not been in a position to sign a marquee player from a rival club for many years.
The last time the club spent big dollars on a player from a rival club was when signing James Tamou (2017) and James Maloney (2018), both of whom were brought to the club under former general manager Phil Gould.
As well as Fisher-Harris, the Panthers will also lose Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva to the Wests Tigers next season. They have managed to retain hooker Mitch Kenny and centre Taylan May in recent months.
The Maroons star was due to fly into Sydney on Sunday afternoon to meet with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary about potentially replacing James Fisher-Harris from next year.
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