Nathan Cleary is said to be a big reason why David Fifita is set to link up with the Penrith Panthers from next season after it was revealed the star No. 7 has expressed his desire to play alongside the damaging Titan.
Due to a contract clause, Fifita has until Thursday 8pm (Round 10 kick off) to opt out of his deal with the Titans from 2025.
Gold Coast have reportedly resigned themselves to the fact that Fifita will leave the club at seasons end, with the Panthers and Roosters the two clubs vying for the Origin representative’s signature.
NRL360’s James Graham asked the panel what will get Fifita to choose between the Panthers and Roosters, with Fox League’s James Hooper naming Nathan Cleary as the main reason.
“Penrith’s strong sell is that they’ve got the best player in the game in Nathan Cleary,” Hooper said on NRL360.
“He’s personally spoken to David Fifita and has told him how much he’d like to have a wrecking ball like him into the Penrith system and the opportunity to be creating space for him and the chance to score tries.
“That’s why I think the Panthers have their noses in front on the negotiating table.”
Hooper went onto say that the Roosters were actually the first club to inquire about Fifita, but were “blindsided” when it was revealed last Sunday that Penrith were keen to enter the race.
“We know the Roosters are an extremely powerful club and we know their track record when it comes to landing major signatures. I think they got a little bit blindsided by Penrith on this.
“The Roosters actually started to talking to David Fifita prior to the Panthers entering the arm wrestle. The Roosters were in first and thought they were flying under the radar, and the Panthers have blown them out of the water at the last minute by coming to the party on Sunday.”
