Wakefield Trinity boss Chris Chester insists Dave Fifita's "going nowhere"

WAKEFIELD TRINITY head coach Chris Chester is 'flabbergasted' about rumours David Fifita will be sold to Warrington Wolves - and instead insists the club want to extend the star Australian prop's contract.
Wakefield Trinity's Dave Fifita, right, with Warrington coach Steve Price after last month's game between the Super League clubs. (Anna Gowthorpe/SWpix.com)Wakefield Trinity's Dave Fifita, right, with Warrington coach Steve Price after last month's game between the Super League clubs. (Anna Gowthorpe/SWpix.com)
Wakefield Trinity's Dave Fifita, right, with Warrington coach Steve Price after last month's game between the Super League clubs. (Anna Gowthorpe/SWpix.com)

There had been reported interest from their Super League rivals for the big 29-year-old who has been such a fulcrum of Trinity’s pack since joining from Cronulla Sharks in 2016.

Fifita, who played under Steve Price when the Warrington head coach was an assistant at Cronulla, is contracted until the end of 2020.

Chester insisted: “I've not had one phone-call.

Wakefield's Dave Fifita on the charge against Wigan earlier this season. (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)Wakefield's Dave Fifita on the charge against Wigan earlier this season. (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Wakefield's Dave Fifita on the charge against Wigan earlier this season. (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
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“It's flabbergasting; it boggles my mind when rumours like this come out.

“We've not had anything from any club and that's being serious.

“I've not had a call from any coach - and why would we let David Fifita go?

“He's one of our best players, if not one of our most important players in the squad.

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"Results have proven that this year. When he got injured early on, we went on a losing streak and when he came back we started winning.

“He knows how important he is to us and I've got a fantastic relationship with Dave and he's just as bemused by it as what I am.”

It was only in May that Wakefield announced the Tonga front-row had turned down interest back in the NRL to extend his stay at Belle Vue.

Chester, who says fellow prop Craig Huby could return from injury in Sunday’s crucial game against Hull FC, continued: “I must have been stopped in Asda about a dozen times yesterday by certain Wakefield fans asking what was going on, why we were letting Dave go and why we've got no ambition!

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“The message to them is clear: Dave Fifita is going nowhere.

"He's a Wakefield player for a minimum of two years - that's how long his contract has got left to run - and Michael (Carter) wants him for the remainder of his deal and longer.

“We can certainly put that rumour to bed here and now."