The Sydney Roosters’ powerbrokers are scratching their heads as to what could have been following David Fifita’s 80th minute contract bust, leaving the club with a $3.4 million bounty and a dissatisfied back-row.

On Wednesday morning, the Sydney Roosters withdrew Fifita’s offer of $850,000 per season over four years, and the Titans declared the Maroon had signed back with them until 2026.

Left in the wake of the collapsed deal is a fractured relationship between Roosters and Angus Crichton, who was left in the dark during the whole affair.

Left in the wake of the collapsed deal is a fractured relationship between Roosters and Angus Crichton, who was left in the dark during the whole affair.

Trent Robinson was asked last week if Fifita’s expected arrival made it more difficult to retain Crichton.

“I’m not naive to think that it doesn’t,” he said.

“That’s the hard thing when you’re in a club and you walk in every day, it’s the balance between the players you have and then trying to get some guys that you think can change the way you play.”

As for the pencil pushers and club contract sweeteners, they will be bitterly disappointed by the recent news. What caused Fifita to back out of an imminent Roosters debut? Is the allure of the East not what it used to be?

At $850,000 a year, homesickness can’t be the reason behind the 24-year-old’s cold shoulder.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis was left baffled by the change of heart, after Fifita did the same thing to Penrith.

“It is difficult to understand,” the powerbroker told the Daily Telegraph. “He approached us.” After visiting Sydney to speak with Trent Robinson and the rest of the coaching staff, it’s difficult to comprehend how he can display and cause uncertainty.” After paying for the brute No.11, the Roosters informed club second-rower Sitili Tupouniua that he may consider his choices after this season. The tricolours must now hustle to resign Crichton, who has been in career-best form over the last three weeks despite his uncertain future in Bondi.

The former Rabbitoh has been vocal over the past few days, assuring management he will not be the understudy of a player sourced elsewhere.

Power undoubtedly lies with Crichton’s agent, as the Roosters have shown over the week they are good for an extra buck.

Interest from Rugby Australia and French clubs has surrounded the schoolboy prodigy for the last few months.

Even though talk of Fifita and Crichton to partner on both edges was put forward, he will be looking for a deal worth around the new benchmark of the Titan’s proposed coin.

An uncomfortable dilemma now presents itself to Trent Robinson. Does he bump up the worth of his current No.11, or go for a new big name to fill the void of a fleeing group?

It would leave the Butcher brothers as the primary second-rower compounds, who are highly capable, but obviously lack something in the eyes of management, due to the nature and speed of Fifita’s contract