David Fifita: Salary, ADHD, and move to Rabbitohs in 2026

If you’ve been following NRL news lately, you’ve probably heard the name David Fifita — and for good reason. The explosive back-rower has just made a career-defining move, leaving the Gold Coast Titans to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Current Team: South Sydney Rabbitohs ·
Previous Team: Gold Coast Titans ·
Contract Length: 2026–2027 ·
Release Date: 28 October 2025

Here is a summary of the key transfer details.

What happened to David Fifita?

David Fifita’s departure from the Gold Coast Titans became official on 28 October 2025, when the club released him from the remainder of his contract (ABC News). Within hours, the South Sydney Rabbitohs announced they had signed the explosive back-rower for the 2026 and 2027 seasons (South Sydney Rabbitohs).

The move ended a five-year association with the Titans, where Fifita had played since his NRL debut in 2019. Reports in August 2025 had already indicated that South Sydney had expressed interest in securing his services (Zero Tackle).

The implication: Fifita’s move to South Sydney marks a significant shift in the NRL landscape, with the club gaining a proven forward.

Is David Fifita related to Andrew Fifita?

This has not been confirmed in the sources reviewed for this article.

What is David Fifita’s background?

David Fifita is a professional rugby league player who played for the Gold Coast Titans from 2019 to 2025. He made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2019 and has since become one of the competition’s most explosive back-rowers. He is now set to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2026 season.

Which NRL player has ADHD?

This has not been confirmed in the sources reviewed for this article.

How much does David Fifita get paid?

Exact salary figures for Fifita’s Rabbitohs contract have not been made public. However, reports indicate that his previous deal with the Titans was worth around A$950,000 per year (Zero Tackle). The same source notes that the Titans may contribute as much as A$500,000 toward his 2026 salary as part of the release agreement (Zero Tackle).

For context, few NRL forwards command salaries above the A$1 million mark, so Fifita’s reported past earnings place him in the upper tier of second-rowers. The Rabbitohs have not disclosed the financial terms of his new two-year deal.

The pattern: Without confirmed salary cap details, the true financial impact of the deal remains speculative.

What is David Fifita’s connection to Wayne Bennett?

Wayne Bennett, the Rabbitohs head coach, has a long history with David Fifita. Bennett gave Fifita his NRL debut at the Brisbane Broncos in 2019 (Zero Tackle). Speaking earlier in 2025, Bennett described Fifita as “a great talent” and expressed interest in coaching him again if he became available (Zero Tackle).

Fifita’s move to South Sydney therefore represents not just a club change but a reunion with the mentor who launched his NRL career. The connection was widely reported as a driving factor in the transfer (ABC News).

“He is a great talent.” – Wayne Bennett (Zero Tackle)

Rabbitohs sign David Fifita for seasons 2026 and 2027 – South Sydney Rabbitohs announcement (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

For South Sydney, the immediate challenge is integrating Fifita into a forward pack that already includes established starters. For Fifita, the move offers a reset after a season where he was reportedly shopped to rival clubs (Zero Tackle). The stakes are high: a successful reunion with Bennett could elevate both the player and the club back into premiership contention. For Rabbitohs fans, the choice to invest in an explosive back-rower is clear: trust the coach who knows him best, or else the cap space gets spent elsewhere.

Timeline of David Fifita’s transfer

• August 2025: Reports emerge that South Sydney have contacted the Titans about Fifita (Zero Tackle).
• Late October 2025: Fifita is granted a release from the Titans (ABC News).
• 28 October 2025: The Rabbitohs officially announce his signing for 2026–2027 (South Sydney Rabbitohs).

The timeline shows a rapid conclusion to speculation that had built over several months.

What remains unclear about David Fifita’s future

While the core details of the transfer are confirmed, several aspects remain ambiguous. Exact salary figures for the Rabbitohs deal have not been disclosed, and the specific reasons for the Titans’ decision to release him have not been officially explained (Zero Tackle). It is also unclear how the Titans’ reported salary contribution will affect the Rabbitohs’ cap space.

The catch: Until the NRL registers the contract, the full financial picture remains uncertain.

Frequently asked questions

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