Ivan Cleary has labelled prospective Panthers recruit 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.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Panthers call for NRL compensation amid $2.5m David Fifita offer.
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.
“It’s obviously a very sensitive issue, all recruitment,” the Penrith coach said.
“It affects a lot of people at clubs, players, agents, families. I think we’ve probably filled our quota for recruitment stories this year so I’m not going to discuss it today.”
Fifita could slot into Penrith’s left second-row spot, which has featured a rotating cast since Viliame Kikau joined Canterbury for 2023.
“He’s a marquee player,” Cleary said of Fifita as he did his best to sidestep questions, turning his focus to compensation claims and declaring ‘it’s hard to argue’ they deserve to be helped out when juniors leave the club.
