NRL: Bulldogs eye prize fullback after Fifita signing

Andrew Fifita has committed to the Bulldogs on a four-year deal starting in 2015. Photo / Getty IMages

Canterbury boss Raelene Castle says the Bulldogs' problematic search for a star fullback will continue, after the NRL club secured the prized signature of Andrew Fifita on Wednesday for the next four seasons.

Cronulla prop Fifita has committed to the Bulldogs on a four-year deal starting in 2015 worth a reported AU$3.2 million in significant blow to the Sharks, where his tacklebusting runs and hard-hitting defence earned him a NSW and Australian jumper last year.

The 24-year-old will add starch to an already impressive Bulldogs pack.

But it is the fullback spot that continues to be a problem at Belmore after superstar Ben Barba was released to join Brisbane this year on compassionate grounds.

Chief executive Castle heralded the signing of Fifita and didn't rule out the Bulldogs adding a star fullback to the Shark's signature for this season.

"It is an important day for the club," Castle told AAP.

"It is not everyday you sign a Kangaroos and a State of Origin player.

"Andrew is an inspirational player and he is a great signing for the Bulldogs both on and off the field."

On the search for a fullback Castle said: "The NRL player market is always changing, it is very dynamic and there are always opportunities that arise.

"We are not going to sign a fullback just for the sake of it. But if a star fullback were to become available we would definitely be interested.

"There is a chance that could happen this year."

Broncos star Josh Hoffman continues to be linked to Belmore, despite two years remaining on his contract at Brisbane.

Sharks boss Steve Noyce said he was confident the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ASADA scandal and the future of coach Shane Flanagan, who is considering appealing against his one-year ban, would not stop the club from securing a big name replacement for Fifita.

"We are not going to race out the door and replace a player of his calibre and his stature straight away," Noyce said.

"We obviously wanted Andrew to stay and we put forward an offer that showed the value and importance we placed on him staying here.

"People outside the club put a lot more emphasis on that (the supplements scandal) than us.

"Obviously we want that to be concluded as soon as possible and hopefully that will happen now the federal government is pushing it along.

"Definitely we are a club that players want to come to and with some of the signings we have made in recent years we have shown that.

"We showed at the back end of last year that this is a club that deals well with adversity.

"Gal (captain Paul Gallen) said after the Titans loss there was a bit of doom and gloom but that is over and we are getting on with it."

Hours after Fifita announced the move, the Sharks confirmed he had taken the early guilty plea on a grade two shoulder charge which will sideline him for two weeks.

In other signing news Gold Coast man of steel, Luke Douglas re-signed with the club for a further three years.

- AAP