Gold Coast’s new director of football Scott Sattler has highlighted a telling detail around David Fifita’s partner after conceding the Titans star is at a ‘crossroads’ in his NRL career. Reports emerged last week that Gold Coast had given Fifita permission to explore his options at rival clubs, despite having one more year left on a deal worth around $900,000.
The Titans have refused to confirm the reports, with coach Des Hasler sidestepping questions over the weekend before Gold Coast announced on Monday that they were parting ways with the veteran mentor. The Titans also announced that Cronulla and Maroons assistant Josh Hannay would take over the head coaching role in 2026, with Sattler and new recruitment chief Anthony Laffranchi set to join him.
David Fifita’s partner and NRLW star Shaylee Bent could factor heavily into the decision he makes about his future at the Gold Coast Titans. Pic: Getty/Titans
It remains to be seen what bearing those changes will have on the future of Fifita, who has played just nine games for the Gold Coast in 2025 after an injury-plagued season. The former Maroons forward is sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury, and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has already made it clear that Fifita is a player he’d love to recruit to the Bunnies.
Sattler was asked on Monday about where Fifita’s future might lie and while admitting he’s a ‘big’ fan’ of the powerhouse back-rower, he wouldn’t give any guarantees that the 25-year-old would be at the club in 2026. Sattler suggested that a change might be good for Fifita to help him rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared forwards in the NRL.
But the new Titans director of football also pointed out that Fifita’s partner Shaylee Bent represents Gold Coast’s NRLW team, and is a gun player in her own right. Whether she would want to relocate with Fifita if he were to move on from the Gold Coast further complicates the situation around his future.
David Fifita’s partner Shaylee Bent also plays for the Gold Coast in the Titans’ NRLW side, complicating any potential move for the former Maroons forward. Pic: Getty
“He’s proven, he’s got a track record. I’m a big fan of Dave,” Sattler told SEN radio about Fifita. “He’s at a crossroads at the moment and he’s still only 25 years of age. Sometimes some people get to parts of their career where they think a change is really good for your career.
“And his partner Shaylee Bent as well is a very good NRLW player. She’s contracted to the Titans as well so there’s a lot to play out there when it comes to Dave.”
Sattler grew up on the Gold Coast and debuted for the Seagulls in 1992, so he knows the area well. Penrith’s 2003 premiership winner was also the Titans’ inaugural football manager and helped assemble the foundation squad in 2007 that was the core of the side that made the 2010 preliminary final in Gold Coast’s finest season.
Future of star players high on the agenda for the Titans
Working alongside new head coach Hannay and recruitment chief Laffranchi, the trio will have some big decisions to make as they try and restore success on the Gold Coast. The Titans are working towards extending gun halfback Jayden Campbell long-term, and convincing captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to stay will be high on the agenda.
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Fa’asuamaleaui has a clause in his lucrative long-term deal that allows him to hit the open market on November 1. The skipper’s manager revealed recently that Tino was keen to stay on the Gold Coast but wanted clarity over the coaching future at the club, which the Titans have now provided.
Gold Coast CEO Steve Mitchell is confident the Titans now have the right men in place to drive the club forward. “We’re here to deliver success,” Mitchell said.
“We’ve got to look at our environment in its totality, which is why we’re looking at Scott Sattler coming in. We’ve got to have a look at the way we’re putting our roster together, which is why are we going to focus heavily on Anthony Laffranchi and the players that we’re bringing through.”