Cronulla have refused to rule out standing down Andrew and David Fifita for the rest of the NRL season even if it comes at the expense of their top-eight hopes.
The pair are the subject of an NRL Integrity Unit investigation after a heated clash with match review officials following a junior rugby league game in Penrith on Saturday.
Cronulla chief executive Lyall Gorman conceded the pair acted inappropriately and swore at officials, but said there was not enough evidence to stand them down.
Gorman said some of the allegations were in dispute, in particular that Andrew threatened violence against the 24-year-old referee after he began filming the incident on his phone.
“Some of the allegations are correct in terms of the match official being inappropriately approached after the match,” Gorman said on Sunday.
“Some foul language occurred towards the match official, there’s no doubt about that.
“There seems to be a little bit more of a grey area in the other second assertion and that’s the facts that we’re trying to tighten up and determine.”
The NRL has asked that they be stood down should any of the allegations be proven true and pledged serious consequences.
“Match officials give up their time because they love the game and the last thing they should be subjected to is abuse or intimidation,” NRL chief executive Dave Smith said.
“It is even more intolerable if someone with the stature of an NRL player is involved – we want the full facts to be presented in this matter.”
Neither were stood down for Sunday’s match with Canterbury at Belmore Sports Ground, with the Sharks saying David was omitted from the 17-man squad on form.
The three officials had to be escorted to their cars after an A-grade game between St Patricks and St Marys at Glenwood.
It has been reported former NSW forward Andrew had to be restrained and physically threatened a referee.
David was filling in as a trainer for St Patricks and after the game abused the referee for not calling a halt to the game when a player was injured.
The referee began filming the episode and Andrew then demanded he hand over the phone, allegedly telling him: “I’ll smash you”.
Gorman said he had not seen the video and expected to receive it by Monday.
The match official’s report will be reviewed on Monday by the Penrith Junior Rugby League, which will decide whether to hand the Fifita brothers a citation.
If they decide to challenge the facts, the matter will go to a full review panel the week after.
The Sharks said they would wait until the outcome of the PJRL hearing before handing down any punishment while the NRL was awaiting the club’s report.
The loss of Andrew Fifita would be a massive blow for the Sharks in their pursuit of a top-eight spot.
He has emerged from the disappointment of being dropped by NSW during this year’s State of Origin series and rebounded to form, scoring in each of his last four outings.
Gorman vowed to come down hard on both if the allegations were proven to be true.
While he would not go into potential penalties, he refused to rule out standing them down for the rest of the year.
“Regardless of what the facts are, we have a zero tolerance towards any behaviour that attacks the integrity, the role or the presence of match officials in junior rugby league or senior rugby league,” Gorman said.
“I’ve been, in another life, a match official and find that behaviour abhorrent and I find it so far against our club, brand and values that we’ve been working so hard on these last nine months.
“I find them very disturbing if they’re proven to be true.”
Eddie
Guest
Have a couple of girls Semi but thanks for your condescension anyway. Hard to see a perspective/contrast/tenuous link when the Fifitas incident happened with witnesses in the weekend and -assuming we're talking about SKD-the domestic violence charge still swirling around.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
So why after the game go up to the ref. There are proper channels for complaints like that. Verballing somebody after the game is not the proper channel. I'm not sure about you, but if two boys the size of the Fifta brothers came towards me in an agitated mood after the game, I can't say I would want a lot to do with them, the intimidation would be incredible. Why should officials have to put up with it? As they say, it's only a game.
JVGO
Guest
And the Roosters have Blake Ferguson, Sean Kenny Dowel, Mitch Pearce, and Jennings all running around. Seriously, talk about double standards. This is the biggest beat up in history. So many misreported facts. Ref is not a cop, it is not a kid's game it is an adult game, David F is the team trainer, there is no video inexistence. But the SHarks have just beaten the Roosters, Dragons and Bulldogs, how dare they?
JVGO
Guest
The video has apparently mysteriously disappeared. Maybe it didn't corroborate the allegations. The St Pats captain says that the referee instigated the incident by refusing to talk to David civilly after the game. In the St Pats captain's opinion we have another beat up over a very minor incident. Since no real evidence exists and various differing accounts are being made a suspension would appear a massive overreaction. But as usual a trial of Cronulla in the media continues apace. What happened after the last two year witch hunt by Asada? In the end it was revealed that Asada had no evidence at all. Cronulla's main crime is beating the Dragons, Roosters and the Bulldogs.
PLANKO
Guest
Turbo come on. First thing when has referee ever admitted he may have contributed to a situation ? Let me then say when was the last time you heard a cop admit he may have been a "little in the wrong" Lastly this was an Adult game not a Junior game. An Adult yelled at another adult. It appears that this referee allowed play to restart after he had stopped the game before the injured party had time to get off. Why only the copper knows it was dangerous ?
turbodewd
Guest
Semi, we have testimony from an experienced police officer vs Andrew Fifita. The balance of probabilities tells me the cop is more trustworthy. Penrith junion leagues sent a copy of the report with multiple witness testimonies to Cronulla. Fifita is goooorrnnnee!
robertdowney
Guest
tweedledee and tweedledum
Semi Radrunrun
Guest
Oh Eddie, Just Imagine how you would feel then if you had a daughter.... All upup was doing was putting things into perspective. Which is worse: a) abusing a ref in public Or b) domestic violence behind closed doors Abusive behaviour towards referees starts at NRL level and filters down. - nrl players abuse the ref ( should of seen James Graham today) - the commentators - the coaches - the journalists - the fans. Fittler and Gould bashing up Fifita brothers today about abusing referees. What Hypocrisy!
Semi Radrunrun
Guest
I heard Fittler and then Gould today smashing Fifita. Channel 9 also dedicated a good portion of the pre game show today to it. Seriously, did Fifita bashed his .....hmmm he didn't? Wait What he What? That's not good is it. So was he arrested? No. Then does he have to go to court? No. Was anyone injured? No. Hmmmm. Does he play for the Roosters? No. He plays for the Sharkies. Oh ok then. just changing the topic to something totally unrelated: Is it me but can someone smell fish?
up up cronulla
Guest
Whos seen the video
nopuitan
Guest
"hunt them down, kill them and eat them"
Eddie
Guest
Were you there Upup? My son used to ref games, doesn't anymore because of the same old vile language and behaviour every weekend from projecting parents and sideline buffoons. Zero, and I mean zero tolerance/sympathy from me for abuse to officials. 'Out of proportion' or otherwise. Weak as p$&s.
AlanKC
Guest
Good thing the ref videoed it then, hey? Should clear the boys if what you claim is true.
up up cronulla
Guest
Abuse ref stand down , abuse women find carpet quik, how quikley you all forget about domestic violence when a ref whistles time on when a player is injured on the field and gets abused for it, plenty of people who were there who are not sharks supporters have already come forward with a different story and have stated its been blown out of proportion, and it wasnt a kiddies game either!!
Jackso
Guest
Why was it the lead item on Nine news?? Amazing - as if they will stand them down for long ....Fine and community service if at all...
MJB
Guest
Watching Fifita giving away multiple penalties with his rubbish play-the-ball today, you'd think the Sharks would take this as an opportunity to ditch him.
A
Guest
Absolutely disgusting that they are allowed to play. What sort of example is this setting?? The NRL need to treat this seriously and should ban them for the year. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.