Instead of going to a Shakespearean tragedy last Saturday, Andrew and David Fifita moseyed along to a Penrith Junior Rugby League A Grade Game and… well, we know the punch line to this bad joke.
Or do we? I don’t think I do.
As far as I can determine from the reports I’ve seen and from talking to people who spoke to people “who were there” – yeah, I can sense your scepticism already.
That’s because you should be sceptical. This whole story has been a mess from the start. I’d even describe it as farcical if the ramifications were not as significant as they are likely to be.
The rumours on social media were circulating on Saturday night. There was an incident involving an NRL player at a junior league game that afternoon. Then the information revealed it was Western Sydney, then that it involved two players from the same NRL club – and on it went.
By the time Sunday morning rolled round Andrew and David Fifita had been identified as the culprits. They were the men who had threatened a junior league referee with violence and there was video evidence of the crime.
If we were in America’s Wild West 150 years ago they would have been lynched on the spot, strung up on the nearest tree through weight of public opinion to protect our referees. I might have even led the charge, particularly when Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman addressed the media outside Belmore Sportsground and declared that the Fifita brothers had acted “very inappropriately” the previous day.
The problem I have with it all is that we have a wide variety of opinions in the rugby league community about what should have been done, how it should have been done, and how swiftly it should have been done.
There were differing points of view that began to emerge on Sunday and Monday, which cast some doubt on the initial reporting.
People who claimed to be at the game called radio stations on Monday morning and told shows such as Triple M’s Grill Team that what transpired didn’t quite happen the way that had been suggested. Andrew was assisting a player from the field and play was allowed to go on which infuriated him and ignited the situation.
At this point I want to make clear that I am not privy to what happened at the ground. I have talked to people who themselves have second-hand reports, so the history teacher in me is inclined to put those to one side.
What does seem to be clear is that the referee was approached by David Fifita with a question about why the game was not stopped while his injured player was brought from the field. David was told to go away, then a video recording device was produced which incited Andrew Fifita to enter the playing area to defend his brother.
Firstly, let’s look at the actions of the NRL players. If you want to approach a referee about anything at a junior footy game, you’re looking for trouble. If you are unaccredited as a team official and you enter the playing area (i.e the fenced area) then you’re looking for more trouble.
If you then use threatening actions, gestures, words, looks – whatever – then you’re in for a whole world of trouble. If you’re a current NRL player who does any of that then you’re in for a week of headlines that not even the sacking of two NRL coaches and a potential salary cap scandal is going to overshadow.
The Fifita brothers between them managed to do all of that in a matter of minutes.
Secondly, we need to look at the genesis of the whole drama. It seems that we had one incident that became a catalyst for the game being brought into disrepute. Had the referee managed the game circumstances around the injured player a little better, had there been a measured response to the initial confrontation and a directive to speak to the ground manager, had there been a more discreet recording of events and witnesses corralled instead of a recording device in the heat of the moment, then we might have had a different outcome.
I am not blaming the referee for this at all. I have been in many situations like this and handled them more poorly, but with less high-profile people. Learning from this sort of thing is essential. There is a very good reason why you don’t see any 24-year-old referees running around in the NRL.
Thirdly, the whole rugby league community needs to take ownership of the problem of courtesy towards officials.
At a junior footy game on any given weekend you will see referees, touch judges, ground managers, sports trainers, canteen managers and every other volunteer that you can name all there for one purpose: to facilitate rugby league for the youth of Australia. Show all of them the respect they deserve for helping make our game great.
The final point I want to make is while the Fifita brothers have inflicted serious damage to their reputations, by being involved in local rugby league they are making a tremendous contribution to the grass roots game.
I have previously written about the influence people like Luke Burt and Brad Arthur have on kids at Rouse Hill, and you can add to that Blake Austin with what he has done at Doonside. Having NRL identities available for kids to see acting in a volunteer capacity, week in week out, with no acknowledgement – and none sought – is a real strength of the game.
A couple of players allowed a minor situation to escalate into a nation-wide witch-hunt that will drag on all week. As a consequence I won’t blame anyone from the NRL for avoiding junior rugby league because of it, as it’s much easier to stay cocooned in their elite world and minimise any risk to their reputations.
I would still rather the game find a balanced approach to these problems and one day iron them out for good. In the meantime, let’s get everyone involved who wants to be and respect them for their love of rugby league.
Rugby league will always be theatre; let’s protect it from becoming farce.
Gordo
Guest
As the ref was also a police officer, he made use of his training for a perfect victim statement. No one has said much about that. They are trained what to say to media after shootings. They have to say things like " I felt visibly threatened" and he said all those things in his statement which helps fuel the fire. Read what he said and then read police statements after shooting events. Its almost word for word perfect. If I did this very same thing would i be banned from work for a week or a year? NO. They did a stupid thing and should be fined a large amount of money,that can be used for the junior game, and kicked out of junior for a year... that should end it. And I hate the sharks. They are much weaker without Andrew but if he gets more than one week.. its a massive joke. What is it they say.. "the truth will out" and it will. Give it time. Good article by Dan.
Smash
Guest
well said peeeko and fair question hooter, yes he is quite good, but also does a lot of stupid things. a regular 200m a game front rower and one of the highest try scorers. If his head was screwed on right he'd be one of the best players in the comp.
Dan Eastwood
Expert
Thanks DJM for your comment. No, I am not kidding. I provide my opinion in this column and some people disagree with it, including former colleagues. To apologise for what I write would be disingenuous. The Penrith Junior League has already passed judgment on the Fifita players and they are rightly in massive trouble. I made it clear they were way out of line. However I want a thorough, whole-of-game approach to this incident and in particular I am weary of the 'us versus them' mentality that the referees hold at all levels of the game. We're in it together, to provide rugby league for those who wish to play. One last thing - at no stage did I mention mental health in my column, so if someone else did, please direct your comments to them.
madridjohn
Guest
Well said Zedman, with logic like that, there is nothing more i can add!
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Just in time to win a competition on the 50th birthday!
2sides2astory
Guest
As you rightly pointed out, the incident was very poorly handled by the referee. By his dismissal of David's enquiry, someone who was obviously acting as an official for the game and then threatening to record him the referee showed a lack of maturity and very poor judgement. The fact that he is a riot squad officer for the NSW police makes this much worse. As a serving police officer he should know that recording the conversation with David for the express purpose of using as evidence is a serious breach of the Listening Devices Act. A Deputy Commission was sacked over a breach of this Act with in the Bulldogs rape case! Perhaps the ref/officer was tipped off about such a serious breach and this is why mysteriously there is suddenly no recording! This Act is far reaching and why when you ring a call centre they tell you up front it may be recorded and allow you an opt out option. Accordingly Andrew and David are well within their rights to refuse to be recorded and insist any such recording is deleted. Perhaps their choice of words was not appropriate. Perhaps they crossed a line or a rope too far.
DJM
Guest
Dan are you kidding....Fifita guilty of similar actions on previous occassions.....old enough to know better.....knows the rules.....now we play the mental health issue card.....give me a break.
Dan Eastwood
Expert
That is a very considered response Clark, so thank you for your comment. You understand my point exactly and a lot of people have jumped the gun here. I hope the full details become known and the matter is cleared up soon. I have been criticised for not backing the ref enough. I'm not going to simply do that - there are a lot more facets to the game of rugby league and and incident like this one. I will remain objective.
Ben
Guest
the fifitas are not the sharpest tools in the shed and if they did abuse the ref they deserve whats coming but im sick of reading so called journalists calling their behavior disgusting and other more degrading superlatives, when none of them truly know what they did. everyone knows journos are prone to exadurate every now and then to sell a paper and id like to think people are smart enough to realize that but a lot arnt, its all hearsay until the fifitas actually speak with their lawyers and penrith rugby league release the statements of the officials, once everyone give their side of the story. then people can judge. until then you all look silly jumping to conclusions.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
I think the Sydney team that finishes lowest on the ladder should relocate---- just hang on a tick while I check where the Draggies are coming. Hope I don't regret this haha.
Debbie McLeod
Guest
Finally people are realising that this was all blow up way out of proportion! I hope the truth comes out sooner rather than later, as these boys are being persecuted on social media.
AR
Guest
"The Sharks put up with this crap for 2 years through the Asada incident over nothing." Ummm, first, Sharks players abusing junior refs has... precisely zero to do with the ASADA incident. Second, in the ASADA incident, the Sharks players pleaded guilty to injecting illegal substances and were banned.
scott
Guest
Obviously their contribution to junior rugby league is showing the boys how to interact with officials and other authority figures. Having an issue with your teacher? Get a large mate to imtimidate then. Don't like something a copper did? Threaten to smash them. Plus they can share Cronulla's winning culture with the lads.
clark bushnell
Guest
I agree that the handling of this matter by all concerned has been poorly handled, especially by the headline seeking media who pour petrol on the fire until they think the story is no longer of interest to the public. There are less confrontational and less adversarial ways to deal with such issues such as the alternative dispute resolution process of mediation between the parties supposedly in conflict so that grievances can be aired, apologies can be mutually given, individual self esteem maintained and strategies for the future management of the sport at junior level put in place to avoid these incidents happening again. This would send a message to our children that adults disputes can be resolved without tempers flaring and the threat of harsh punishments, which our own judicial system shows, does little to prevent bad behaviour.
hooter
Guest
well said peeeko is he that good though, yes he does some good things but also makes a lot of mistakes , and doesn't exactly do what he should as a front rower maybe the dogs realised what he was like when they brushed him and he went back to the sharks only interested in himself and the money
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I like that idea! Steel city!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
If they want to be shot of a Sydney side, move the Dragons to play all their games out of Wollongong. Also, go back to the scarlet shirt and white shorts.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The issue is that we don't know the facts only what has been said in the media. The only ones who know are those involved and the actual witnesses. Another "story" doing the rounds was that the injured player was only down to put his boot back on. So far, we can only assume that the Penrith JRL had all the necessary information to pass out their judgement on the pair.
Renegade
Roar Guru
squid/eye, Got some good news this week.... Gal just put pen to paper to lead us around for another year.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I bet the refs who game them a seventh tackle try in the finals two years ago got a bollocking. Not because it was silly, yet costly error, but because it goes against the NRL's anti-shark policies.