Andrew Fifita should not have been allowed to play for Cronulla against Canterbury yesterday, but that debate will quickly become one of minor significance if his behaviour at a junior game on Saturday is proved to be as bad as has been alleged.
Fifita would surely be suspended until the end of the season – at least. His brother, David, who was also involved in the incident but didn’t play yesterday because of injury, would also face the possibility of a heavy penalty.
That seems clear from NRL chief executive Dave Smith’s comment that “if we become aware of any NRL players abusing match officials there will be very significant consequences”.
But, really, no-one should need to have the importance of policing behaviour at junior league games explained to them.
My son used to play junior rugby league in western Sydney and there were times when I was appalled by the behaviour of spectators. When I say ‘spectators’ I mean the parents of players.
Wrong messages were sent to kids from over the fence as they were egged on to go over the top.
Referees were targets of abuse. I remember once I had parked my car at a game and before I even closed the door after getting out I heard a spectator yell “somebody get the ref”.
The offenders were well in the minority, but a minority is still way too much when we’re talking about this sort of thing. A minority can still have a huge impact.
Poor spectator behaviour is an ongoing problem at junior league games and if one good thing comes out of this matter involving the Fifita brothers – Andrew was a spectator and David an on-field trainer for one of the teams – it is that it will further highlight the problem.
Cronulla chief executive Lyall Gorman said yesterday that “there is certainly no doubt that both of our players at one level or another have acted very inappropriately in terms of letting themselves down, letting their teammates down, letting our club down and more importantly letting the whole of rugby league down”.
That view should have been more than enough reason to stand the Fifitas down from yesterday’s game.
Gorman said “in one of the areas there seems to be some grey, which I need to get on top of before I rush to the right or wrong decisions”.
That comment is understood to be related to the allegation Andrew Fifita had physically threatened the referee of the junior league game by saying “I’ll smash you”.
The referee had pulled out his mobile phone to record David Fifita’s alleged abuse of him.
There has since been a reported suggestion that Andrew Fifita denies making physical threats and instead told the referee “I’ll smash your phone”.
But whether Fifita said “I’ll smash you” or “I’ll smash your phone”, there remained Gorman’s overall assessment ahead of yesterday’s game being played that “there is certainly no doubt that both of our players at one level or another have acted very inappropriately in terms of letting themselves down, letting their teammates down, letting our club down and more importantly letting the whole of rugby league down”.
So how could Andrew Fifita have been allowed to play? And if Cronulla wasn’t prepared to stand him down, the NRL should have stepped in and done so.
Whatever the referee was able to record on his mobile phone will obviously be very important in determining exactly what did happen and what the punishment should be.
Some people may ask why should Andrew Fifita have been stood down if Sydney Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall wasn’t stood down from a game the previous weekend after he was the subject of domestic violence charges.
Kenny-Dowall didn’t play, but he wasn’t stood down by his club or the NRL. It became clear to his club that he wasn’t in the right mental state to play, so it was decided he wouldn’t play. He again didn’t play on the weekend just gone.
The two matters are vastly different.
Domestic violence is to be abhorred and if Kenny-Dowall is found guilty he will get what he deserves, but he is set to fight the charges.
It is a conundrum for the NRL. Do you stand a player down who is the subject of such charges until the matter is finalised in court, or do you allow him the presumption of innocence and the right to continue playing in the meantime?
In the case of the Fifita brothers, their own club stated that they had acted very inappropriately and let themselves, their teammates, their club and the game down.
This matter will reach a conclusion fairly swiftly, one would expect.
I would much rather be talking about the weekend NRL games, but the issue of spectator behaviour at junior games is a major one that should be highlighted.
BeastieBoy
Guest
I went to my sons rugby game against a GPS school yesterday. The ref was about 17 and was totally bias towards the GPS school. I mean he was the most bias ref I had seen. He was either totally oblivious to it or a knowing cheat. What do we as parents do. Sit on the sidelines and say well done chaps and pander to the righteous sense of priviledge this school and indeed this sport has. Why aren't there systems in place to correct this refs behavior? Why aren't parents concerns listened to? The coaches should have an ability to complain. There should be referee mentors that go to the games. The simple view is taken in all these articles that the problem with junior refereeing is all to do with the Parents. That it is the adults fault and not the child referee. Well I think there is some bad beviour. But equally there is a massive lack of quality control of the referring by the administrators that could be fixed.after that game my feelings were that I'd be happy to never see another junior rugby game and that my son do another sport. Now many every week do just that. All because of poor refereeing and their poor mentoring.
Steve
Guest
OK I thought it was longer. I thought his contrary conduct charge was a bit tough. He didn't threatened the ref but he did abuse his position with abusive language. But he had the right to be in that position to begin with as the captain. He just went overboard. But the Fafita brothers were not involved in the game and on the sidelines. Thats almost like a stranger coming up to you in the street and threatening you which borderlines on assault. From what I heard Andrew said I will bash the ref which is very serious. Though I hope they dont over react and give him 12 months. It maybe a bit like Barba in that they need some therapy and time to deal with they feelings and state of mind. That could take 4 weeks or it could take 4 months like Barba. But 12 months seems excessive. I think the Sharks should be fined for allowing them to play against the dogs as well. This seems to be a contrary conduct case as well if the management knew that they had breached the code of conduct.
Mark
Guest
Do people still watch it ?
Freighter
Guest
ah... Standard reading comprehension jibe... I think this is blogging 101.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Are you being serious? It's really not that hard to comprehend - try to read it slowly.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I'm not implying the ref is wrong I'm saying let the process run it's course as there are conflicting reports.
Freighter
Guest
"I keep saying it- let's not make rash statements or judgments".... Just after implying the referee is FOS... And then the third paragraph is just an absolute cracker given the statements made in the first two.... Really, everyone else should be cursing.
PLANKO
Guest
You are missing my point I clearly stated a significant punishment is worthy and I do not think anything should be swept under the carpet. I think using the word "junior" just inflames the article and sells newspapers. I have talked about this and all people I have spoken to in person calm down a little once they realise that this was not a kids game. Once again I think the league should and will set a high bar on this.
Renegade
Roar Guru
It's pretty obvious that the first paragraph is simply implying the point... FFS
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
+1
Muzz
Guest
Graham received 3 weeks for contrary conduct and 1 week for the dangerous tackle on A Reynolds. Total of 4 weeks.
Steve
Guest
Thats OK but what about a ban from playing as well. Graham got 5 weeks for arguing with a ref. He didn't call him names or threaten him. He just stood his ground be it over the top. But the Fafita brothers have abused a junior ref and threatened to bash him in front of kids. When the NRL said they would come down on players for abusive behavior to officials they didn't just mean NRL officials. They meant rugby league officials. If anything what the Fafitas did was way worse. On the field of battle it can get heated and its sort of expected. But from the sideline as a parent in front of kids is ridiculous.
Tricky Ricky
Guest
What is in the water out Sharkies way? Too many idiots at that club. It will be great seeing less of the Fifita brothers on the Footy Show for a change. I don't find them funny, just stupid.
Compo
Roar Rookie
you know i think its because theyre on the Footy show so much... = inflated egos.... its happened before and will continue with other players too untl they limit appearances on those sort of shows.
Bfc
Guest
Alas...not just a league issue. Am involved with a local football/soccer club, coaching U18s (at least the Refs did not cop any abusive comments last weekend...that was reserved for us coaches)...amazing how much the Refs cop. All fans should be compelled to adhere to the 'code of conduct', especially when it comes to Junior officials as that when the 'culture' begins. It would be a great learning process if the gents concerned were made to do a Refs course and to referee games...to see how easy it is get various points of view of any single incident. No Refs=no games...and the biggest losers would be the kids.
turbodewd
Guest
I watched the first half of the Cronulla v Bulldogs game. Andrew Fifita has no respect for rugby league at all, its visible in how he plays the game. He gave the ball away twice for pathetic play-the-balls. Also got penalized a further 2 times for defensive stupidity. He likes to be disliked and we are all falling for the game he is playing. He is playing us. He likes to be the hated so he can play his victim card which he has played his whole life to defend himself. He is trapped in a whirlpool of aggro that he doesnt know how to escape. Anyway, Cronulla mgmt have brought in the lawyers now to murky the waters. Charming. Doesnt matter, the horse has bolted, 3 refs out Penrith way have given the referring caper away.
Freighter
Guest
Why does your first paragraph refer to a media article littered with inconsistencies, and then your next 2 paragraphs preach that people should not believe everything that they read in papers? Isnt that post one complete contradiction?
liam
Guest
Wouldn't these incidents be covered by the players code of conduct and therefore the 12 month ban apply at all levels?
NTJ
Guest
Have to say I'm laughing at all the calls for a 12 month ban, or any ban from the NRL for that matter. The ref claimed to have video evidence, and now he didn't press record? Please. You can't ban someone from playing based solely on hearsay. If you take the opinion of one witness saying they were in the wrong, you can't completely disregard the statements of others saying they weren't; you can't pick and choose to suit the outcome you want. I agree with a fine for being involved in some kind of incident with a junior official, but to suggest punishments larger than what others have received for worse offences is ridiculous.
Red Rooster
Guest
So the nrl allows a player to play a full season and grand final after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman- but you demand these two are stood down without admitting to a thing!