The recruitment of the Titans has been criticized after their fall to the semifinals last year in 13th place in the middle of the 2022 season, with their backbone as an area of concern.
Dave Riccio believes the money the Titans are spending on David Fifita would be better for improving his spine, which has become unbalanced.
“How has the Titans been recruited in recent seasons?” Braith Anasta asked the NRL 360.
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“Do you think they are in a strong position? Have they made the right decisions?”
Paul Kent noted that the Titans have no depth in the column, but he believes his strikers and especially skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have been good for the club.
“There was an obvious thinning in the area of the spine,” Kent said.
“But people like Tino and Fifita have been good.”
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However, Riccio believes that the signing of Fifita has put his entire salary cap out of play, which has neglected their spine, which is what wins the first positions.
“Fifita has been a disaster, nothing more and nothing less,” Riccio said.
“$ 1.2 million car accident. It’s been horrible. Every once in a while you’re on the sidelines. “He’s sitting there waiting for the ball to hit him. It’s just a hoax.”
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David Fifita commands a large part of the salary cap to the Titans. Source: Getty Images
Anasta believes the Titans paid for Fifita based on their potential and to take him to the club so he could play his best football in the coming seasons.
“The point is that with Fifita you’re paying for potential and that only happens in the hopes that he will come out well and reach his potential and bring out the best in himself for the team,” Anasta said.
“I still think he can, but so far he has not been injured.
“There are a lot of clubs that would have done what the Titans did and there will still be clubs queuing up for Fifita if he continues.”
However, Paul Crawley noted that the Titans have a potential pay history and should start attracting recruits to the club who are proven winners.
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Kieran Foran’s signing leaves the Titans with an uncertain backbone next season. Source: Getty Images
“Where the Titans have gone wrong is that they also bet before that on Ash Taylor and it never worked out,” Crawley said.
“It was a $ 1 million bet per season and then they did it with David Fifita.
“Now Fifita has all the talent in the world and you’re probably right, you have to pay him a million dollars to get him. But was it a good decision for the club? No, it wasn’t. It wasn’t a good decision. .
“And then with Kieran Foran going there and everyone looking at these experienced players going to different clubs.
“I guess the difference with Foran is that he has spent his life playing number 6. I know he can play number 7, but he no longer has the legs to kick him.”
Anasta believes the Titans will have an egg in their face if the Raiders recruit Jamal Fogarty back from injury and succeed in Canberra.
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Jayden Campbell has a clause in his contract.Source: Getty Images
“They also let go of Fogarty, so if Fogarty starts playing very well in Canberra, his recruitment will be questioned,” Anasta said.
“But it should already be because they got rid of a like for a similar substitute,” Riccio interposed.
“They got rid of a similar player.”
Crawley asked where AJ Brimson or Jayden Campbell will play when Foran joins the halves next season.
“Where does that leave AJ Brimson or young Jayden Campbell?” said Crawley.
“Well, Campbell has to play on the sidelines,” Anasta replied.
“So where does AJ play?” Crawley insisted.
“Half with Foran,” Anasta replied.
“And Sexton is gone?” Crawley asked.
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“Because in my books there is a young boy who has incredible potential.
“He’ll never be the style of superstar Sam Walker in midfield, but he certainly has the long-term ability to be a Chad Townsend-type player. If you give him time.”
Anasta believes the Titans can’t put Brimson on the bench given the big money they paid him to be the club’s long-term winger or the five-eighth.
“You can’t put Brimson on the bench,” Anasta said.
“It simply came to our notice then. They’ve gotten into a pickle where we don’t even know who will choose where.
“They have a lot of quality players, but are they the right players for the Titans? At the moment they don’t even know themselves and you can see that in their performances.”
Riccio revealed that Campbell has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave in 2023 if he reaches an agreement with an NRL rival and there are several Sydney clubs interested.
“Jayden Campbell is a player a lot of clubs are looking at,” Riccio said.
“There is an option in Jayden ‘s contract that allows some flexibility to leave before the end of the term, which is 2023.
“He’s a player the Titans can’t afford to lose. But there are some Sydney clubs watching him.”