South Sydney are showing serious interest in Gold Coast Titans young star David Fifita as a potential recruitment target, with coach Wayne Bennett now publicly acknowledging his interest.
“I don't know what the situation is with David and the Titans,” Bennett told The Daily Telegraph today.
“If he is available, I would be interested, yes for sure. Until he gets permission to talk, we pretty much have our hands tied. If he comes onto the market I would be interested in him,” Bennett explained.
Reports already suggest a third-party has approached the Rabbitohs to test the waters around signing the explosive Origin forward once he’s eligible to negotiate.
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Fifita, who has struggled this season with injury and form, is free to talk with other clubs from November under NRL rules.
Given Bennett’s reputation for turning around wayward talent, the Rabbitohs see Fifita as a high-upside investment that could reignite his career.
The Rabbitohs are fighting to stave off the dreaded wooden spoon in 2025 and could desperately use an injection of strike, youth, and x-factor in their pack for 2026 — qualities that up until recently perfectly described David Fifita.
The Titans reportedly want Fifita to see out his contract through 2026, but the feasibility of that is being questioned amid interest from rival clubs and his reduced role under current coach Des Hasler.
At more than $800k as a reported annual salary, it also stands to reason the Titans could consider freeing up money in the salary cap if Fifita isn’t a part of their long-term plans.
That salary will also be a sticking point though, with the Rabbitohs not having a huge amount of cap space and the likelihood the Titans would need to pay some of Fifita’s 2026 salary to move him.
As a signing in cardinal and myrtle it has become a more realistic option in recent weeks however, with news a number of players will depart the club, and if that includes Lewis Dodd, it would open more than enough room for the Rabbitohs to take on Fifita at full cost.
At just 25, Fifita remains a compelling back-row option with State of Origin honours and the kind of physicality South Sydney could use on their left edge.
It would also likely be yet another successful reclamation project in Wayne Bennett’s long career of players rejuvenating their football under the master coach.