Today we take a look at the fiasco surrounding David Fifita's Titans contract, the alleged blow-up between Braith Anasta and Latrell Mitchell and the New South Wales halves shortage.
Read on as we tackle some of the big talking points in this week's NRL Real or Not.
Don't count your contracts until the ink is dry
REAL: A player as talented and as physically gifted as David Fifita is always going to attract interest when the hunt is on for his signature. Fifita had signed a three-year contract extension with the Titans midway through last season, but it emerged that the contract included the option for Fifita to activate the final two years of the deal by Round 10 of the 2024 season. When that weekend came and went, the Titans announced that Fifita had missed his deadline and the frenzy began.
"The Titans can confirm David Fifita has informed the club he will not be taking up his player option for the 2025 and 2026 seasons," the club noted.
Speculation reached fever point as Fifita and his manager explored the available options. They were seen having meetings with the Panthers and then the Roosters, as the media played a breathless game of join the dots.
Finally the intrigue was over as it was reported that he had agreed to a deal offered by the Roosters. We even had time for Roosters back rower Angus Crichton to express his disappointment at the move, which theoretically threatened his future at the club.
Still, you should never count your Roosters until they hatch. No deal is final until the ink hits the paper and the NRL ratifies the paperwork. Fifita had second thoughts, maybe the extra cash wasn't worth the upheaval he and his family faced, maybe he's more a Broadbeach man than a Bondi fan. He expressed his doubts to the Roosters, they withdrew their offer and Fifita was once again a Titan.
Whatever Fifita's reasoning, the circus is over - for now at least - as we're sure to be put through the same antics next year, because of the NRL system of allowing players to negotiate with a year still running on their contracts. There has been much criticism of the NRL's contract system and the way players and managers can play the league and the fans for fools with their smoke and mirror antics, but when a club builds in a player option like the one in Fifita's contract, they are asking for the kind of fiasco we have just witnessed.
We wait to see who will be interested in signing Fifita next year, I'm not sure the Roosters will be keen to go through it all again.
Members of the sport media need to be held accountable for their views
NOT REAL: It has been reported that Latrell Mitchell confronted Fox panelist Braith Anasta at a restaurant recently, upset over recent criticism of his performances with the struggling Rabbitohs. The incident reportedly became quite heated with Latrell offering to settle the matter outside.
Should the sports media be prepared front up or shut up? Absolutely not. The media are employed to provide commentary and analysis of the game and the players and they should never feel intimidated by those they see fit to criticise. No person in any career should live in fear of coming face to face with someone they have been paid to give an honest assessment of.
There is one sure way for Mitchell, and any other player who feels he has been unfairly criticised, to respond. It's the time old method of making the critic eat his own words, by proving him completely wrong through on field excellence. You can't go around threatening to fight anyone who criticises your performances, especially when that criticism seems to most to based in fact.
Blues have real issues coming up in the halves
REAL: There could not have been a bigger blow to the Blues chances in this year's State of Origin to hear that Nathan Cleary would likely miss the entire series with a hamstring injury. A quick search for possible replacements and a likely halves pairing show that the Blues are indeed in a desperate situation.
Mitchell Moses was expected to return from a foot injury this week, but has been delayed a further week. Adam Reynolds, an outside chance at taking the role, has been hobbling around on one leg for most of the year and is now out indefinitely with a torn biceps. Nicho Hynes pulled out of last week's clash with the Broncos with injury. After those two they have Luke Brooks, Chad Townsend or the prospect of shoehorning a number of five-eighths into the role including Luke Keary, Jarome Luai and Cody Walker.
Once the halfback is picked, the issue of five-eighth seems just as confusing. Walker, the incumbent and man of the match in a dead rubber game three last year, has been struggling along with the rest of the Rabbitohs. Luai who was dropped for Walker after Game 2 last year was unconvincing and Matt Burton, who plays five-eighth for the Bulldogs, still looks a better option at centre. Jack Wighton remains retired from Origin, while the aforementioned Keary does play five-eighth for the Roosters, but looked overawed in his one and only Origin appearance.
In contrast the Maroons have a banquet of halves to choose from starting with Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster and including Ben Hunt, Ezra Mam, Daniel Atkinson, Anthony Milford, Tanah Boyd, Tom Deardon and Sam Walker.
It is always a mammoth task beating the Maroons, but made even harder when you're not sure who your halves will be.