Typical of the messy player market, speculation was whirring on Wednesday about Fifita's future. There was talk that he was being shopped around to other clubs. That other clubs wanted him. The other line floating about is that he isn't happy at Cronulla. "He's very happy at our club," Gorman said. Those close to Fifita say the same thing. At the Sharks, and especially under coach Shane Flanagan, the game's most enigmatic character has finally found his groove. Fairfax Media contacted Fifita, who is in camp with the Blues ahead of Origin II, but didn't hear back. He did, however, scoff when contacted through NSW Rugby League officials that he was looking elsewhere and that he wasn't happy in the Shire.

Why would he move? The 27-year-old has shrugged off the controversies of last season to become an even better player than the one who propelled Cronulla to their first premiership in last year's grand final. Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and senior players didn't want him in the Four Nations squad last year, but after earning a call-up in the Anzac Test he can now establish himself as a mainstay of the national side for years to come. The opening try in Origin I he set up for Maloney perfectly captured his innate skill and ability: a left-foot shuffle, two broken tackles and then, with two more defenders holding on for dear life, he gets his right hand out and then almost dislocates his wrist as he gets the pass away. Fifita's closet mates often joke with him about his teddy-bear physique. His nickname is "The Roll", as in fajita rolls, the delicious Mexican dish. It betrays the fact he's one of the Sharks' best on the training paddock, whether it's in two-kilometre time trials or moving tin in the weights room.

Does this special breed of footballer deserve $1 million a season, which seems to be the going rate for match-winners these days? If Aaron Woods can command $800,000 a season at the Bulldogs, what price a player like Fifita, who offers far more than eat-up-the-yardage in the middle of the field? Give him seven figures. It's understood Fifita is about to ramp-up legal action against the Bulldogs after he signed with them in 2014, only for the deal to fall over when the contract came back to him. Fifita has alleged he was offered $800,000 a year over four years, plus a car, in a memorandum of understanding signed by the player, Canterbury chief executive Raelene Castle and chairman Ray Dib. He said he was shocked when he received the official NRL contract from the club almost three weeks later worth about $1 million less than the agreed amount.

Fifita ended up staying at Cronulla but hasn't been short-changed and is believed to be well paid. Given his stability at the Sharks, and that he has a young family, and that he can expect rep bonuses from NSW and Australian sides for years to come, he is likely to sacrifice dollars to stay where he is happiest. Then again … "If someone threw me a million dollars to go to union, I'm going with no hesitation," Fifita said this time last year when Parramatta winger Semi Radradra was weighing up a massive offer from French rugby club Bordeaux. "Anytime, anywhere.