Dragons star Moses Suli has revealed the club’s latest young gun recruit Viliami Fifita didn’t want to leave Manly to join the Wollongong-based side.
Suli admitted he felt the same way before leaving the Sea Eagles to join St George Illawarra ahead of the 2022 season.
But the deal went ahead and Suli has since flourished as one of the Dragons best and most important players.
The 24-year-old has backed Fifita, who joined the club on Tuesday after a swap deal that sent veteran Aaron Woods to Manly, to follow in his footsteps.
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Wighton whacked with two game suspension | 00:34
The Dragons traded Woods in exchange for 22-year-olds Fifita and Alec Tuitavake.
Fifita has been added to the Dragons top 30 roster and signed a contract keeping him at the club until 2025, while Tuitavake is on a two-year deal and will spend 2023 on a development contract before being upgraded next year.
The swap left some pundits perplexed but Suli provided further context when asked about the arrival of Fifita on Tuesday.
The pair are both managed by Mario Tartak and Suli revealed that just like himself ahead of the 2022 season, Fifita wasn’t keen on joining the Dragons.
“We’ve got the same manager and (Tartak) let me know that (Fifita) was looking to come here and from what my manager said, (Fifita) didn’t want to come, he loved it over there at Manly,” Suli said.
Wighton whacked with two game suspension | 00:34
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“But yeah, I was in the same situation as well, I didn’t want to come here but I’ve got to do what’s best for me and best for my footy and he’s coming to do the same thing.
“Hopefully he comes and has a crack and hopefully does well.”
Foxsports.com.au contacted Tartak to clarify Suli’s comments and he explained the western Sydney product was talking about leaving his comfort zone.
Tartak emphasised Suli’s comments were in the context of moving away from Sydney and his family and friends, and not a knock on the Dragons.
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