Penrith Panthers circle ‘marquee’ Titans star David Fifita as club offers huge deal worth $850,000 a season
- Panthers offer Fifita three-year contract
- Deal is said to be worth $850,000 a season
- Cleary labelled Fifita a ‘marquee player’
Ivan Cleary has labelled prospective Panther David Fifita a ‘marquee player’ as the Gold Coast wrecking ball prepares to make a call on his NRL future in the coming days.
To remain at the Titans in 2025, barnstorming second-rower Fifita must trigger a player option in his contract by round 10, which begins on Thursday.
The 24-year-old flew to Sydney and met Panthers officials on Sunday evening, with the triple reigning premiers in a position to make a lucrative offer now that James Fisher-Harris is leaving to join the Warriors in 2025.
The Panthers are understood to have tabled Fifita a long-term deal worth an estimated $850,000 a season from 2025 but Cleary held his cards close to his chest when pressed on Monday.
The Penrith Panthers are understood to have tabled the barnstorming Fifita (pictured) a deal worth an estimated $850,000 a season
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary (pictured) labelled the prospective Panther a ‘marquee player’
A pair of Bulldogs stars are preparing to return to Penrith for the first time while the Panthers look set to welcome back Nathan Cleary for Friday night’s clash.
The halfback sat out last week’s win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs for precautionary reasons, having made his return from a hamstring injury five days earlier.
Cleary had earlier missed three games after picking up the injury in round three.
The Panthers did not miss a beat without their halfback, convincingly defeating Souths, and they are eager to continue a three-week winning streak.
The defending premiers will take on a number of familiar faces at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night as a host of ex-Panthers players return to Penrith.
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton and edge forward Viliame Kikau will play their first game against their former club in what is sure to be a hotly contested affair. Matt Burton and Jaeman Salmon will also take on their old club.
Canterbury have soared into the top eight with a series of impressive performances under the tutelage of former Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo.
The Bulldogs claimed back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a year with a come-from-behind victory over the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
Forward Jacob Preston is set to play a bigger role on Friday after spending 80 minutes on the bench last weekend in his first week back from a fractured jaw.
The Bulldogs are also hopeful Connor Tracey will be available after he was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s game with a quad injury.
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