Former skipper Sam Thaiday has urged Brisbane to fast-track the re-signing of young gun David Fifita to fill the back-row void created by Matt Gillett’s sudden retirement.
The Broncos are hoping to receive an NRL salary cap exemption to help retain the in-demand Fifita following an emotional Gillett’s decision to end his 10-season career on Thursday due to a serious shoulder injury.
The 31-year-old had three seasons left on a contract reportedly worth $700,000 a year.
If the NRL determines Gillett qualifies for medically-forced retirement, an exemption could add $2 million to Brisbane’s cap and help them not only re-sign Fifita but lure Melbourne playmaker Brodie Croft to Red Hill in 2020.
Thaiday says Fifita must be Brisbane’s priority after the 19-year-old Queensland forward became one of the hottest properties on the NRL market.
The Junior Kangaroos skipper – off contract in 2020 – is free to speak with rival clubs from Friday.
The barnstorming forward is set to field offers of up to $1 million a season with South Sydney, Sydney Roosters and the Warriors expected to lead the way.
“I hope the powers that be can get that deal done sooner rather than later,” Thaiday told AAP.
“I really see Dave growing and developing in this team and being a real leader.”
While saddened by ex-teammate Gillett’s retirement, Thaiday said Fifita’s retention would ease the pain of the 200 NRL game veteran’s abrupt departure.
“He’s a massive loss with his experience. Losing another senior player is definitely tough with the youth we have here,” he said.
“But in saying that the backrowers we have here are ready to step up and take Gillo’s place.
“There is of course Fifita and Kotoni Staggs is a very similar player to Gillo.
“And there’s the old head Alex Glenn still sniffing around. The club has got enough to fill the void but Gillo will definitely be missed.”
Brisbane are believed to be close to officially announcing the re-signing of Staggs and New Zealand international Glenn.
But the Broncos will be sweating on the salary cap exemption as they look to refresh their roster and bounce back from their humiliating NRL finals exit – a record 58-0 loss to Parramatta.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said a decision may take several weeks.
“I don’t foreshadow any issues but we’ll run it through the same process and the same rules and we’ll make the same determination at the end of that according to the facts,” he said.
“The rules are very clear and that will take us a number of weeks to go through that process.”