Titans forward David Fifita says his girlfriend and family were central to his multi-million dollar call to backflip on joining the Roosters, after explaining the decision to remain on the Gold Coast. Fifita last year agreed to join the Roosters from the 2025 season onwards after signing a four-year deal worth around $3.3 million. He even turned down a rival offer from Penrith in the process.
However, during the ten-day cooling-off period that players are afforded with any deal to switch clubs, Fifita had a massive change of heart, before the Roosters ultimately pulled their big-money offer. Speaking openly for the first time since that bombshell call, Fifita has now revealed that his partner Shaylee Bent and the desire to be close to his parents and family were pivotal to the decision.
Seen here, Titans forward David Fifita and his long-time girlfriend Shaylee Bent.
Titans forward David Fifita says his long-time girlfriend Shaylee Bent was central to his decision to stay on the Gold Coast. Pic: Getty/TitansMore
Fifita wears strapping on both wrists with ‘Mum’ on one and ‘Dad’ on the other, and says he would have found it extremely hard to relocate to Sydney, away from his parents and family. “Having my family around – my mum, dad and nan – and being close to them,” the forward said when asked why he stayed on the Gold Coast. “They are getting older and I wanted to be around them and look after them.”
Fifita says his love for long-time girlfriend Bent was also a major factor, after she’d moved from Sydney to Queensland to be with him. “It was massive for her to stay here,” he said. “She has sacrificed a lot for me. She could have gone down to Sydney, but I wanted her to stay. She cooks for me and does a lot for me. She looks after me and does all the right things. When I’m down with my injuries, she looks after me. It’s hard when you get injured, but she and my mum and dad are there for me.”
Shaylee Bent in action for the Gold Coast Titans NRLW team. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Bent admitted last year that she and Fifita had really settled down on the Gold Coast, so Fifita was no doubt reluctant to ask her to uproot her life once again. “It’s the same with David, (the Gold Coast) is our home now. We love the community, we love the fans, we love the club and we love our teams, the Titans NRLW star said. “We’ve built a life up there so we’re really happy.”
David Fifita says he wanted to stay on the Gold Coast because of partner Shaylee Bent and to be close to his parents and family. Pic: Getty/Shaylee Bent
David Fifita says he wanted to stay on the Gold Coast because of partner Shaylee Bent and to be close to his parents and family. Pic: Getty/Shaylee BentMore
David Fifita believes he can win a premiership with Titans
Fifita also said he believed the Titans had assembled a squad capable of winning a premiership with superstars all across the park such as fullback Keano Kini, halves AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell, skipper and rep star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and premiership-winning coach Des Hasler. “I just believe in the players we have here,” Fifita said.
“I have been signed here since 2021. I’m 25 now, so I’m getting older. We have stayed around, this core group, for a while now and hopefully this is the year (we win a title). We all come off-contract next year, so this has to be the year. I’m excited to have our skipper (Tino Fa’asuamaleaui) back (from injury) and with Regan (Campbell-Gillard) coming back from injury. I’m looking forward to running out with the pack we have and our six, seven and one going off the back of them.”
“Every time (contract talks) come around, I seem to be front and centre. It can be a distraction sometimes, but I have a good partner and my manager and my parents who keep me level-headed. I’m happy here… I have two more years here and we have to win.”
Fifita had ankle surgery in the pre-season and there were concerns he could miss the start of the new campaign. But the hulking back-rower played in two pre-season trials and will hopefully be good to go for round two, when the Titans – who have the bye in round one – kick off their new season away to the Bulldogs.
