Cronulla Sharks grand final hero Andrew Fifita has threatened to quit the NRL after being deemed ineligible for the Kangaroos.
After a huge season on the field, Fifita was arguably the competition’s form prop. He has averaged 160m per match and scored the crucial try in the Sharks 49-year drought-breaking title victory over the Melbourne Storm.
Fifita was not considered for Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos touring squad, primarily due to the controversy surrounding his support of convicted one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.
At the squad announcement press conference NRL CEO Todd Greenberg opinioned that while Fifita was a very talented player on the field, his off the field exploits need to be fixed.
“We believe that to wear the Australian jersey, the most prestigious jersey in our game, you should have to distinguish yourself both on and off the field,” Greenberg said.
“As you know Andrew is currently being investigated by the Integrity Unit after wearing an arm band supporting someone convicted of a criminal offence. While that may not be illegal, it was in poor taste to the extreme.”
Greenberg pointed out Fifita’s past off-field indiscretions, including his suspension for abusing a match official at a junior rugby league game, were also considered in the decision to leave him out of the Kangaroos squad.
The last 18 months have been extremely turbulent for the 27-year-old. Last season he was banned for six NRL matches and fined $30,000 for abusing a junior rugby league referee.
According to Fairfax Media, the Sharks prop has spoken with his management about leaving the NRL. Fifita still has two seasons left to run on his contract and is a NSW State of Origin incumbent.
Fifita has previously attracted interest from rugby union, and his brother David is presently plying his trade in the English Super League with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
Cronulla is yet to release an official statement regarding Fifita’s threats, but it is believed they are hoping the threat is an empty one. Fifita has made similar comments in the past.
Fifita’s manager Ben Johnston has made no comment on whether Fifita is attempting to gain a release from his contract.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Yeah............I've lived a sheltered life. I've only been to The Big Smoke twice. Once for the NRL Grand Final at ANZ Stadium, and the other time to see the fruit and veg display at The Royal Easter Show at Homebush Bay.
Bigj
Guest
if you don't know who Wally Lewis is then you proved my point that you a single sided Sydney supporter. Tell you what,read my next article and you'll find out.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
No Big A - you think, that I think that a quarter of a million would boycott NRL affiliated sponsors. It would be a marketers dream if 10% of the Shire acted. And who's Wally Lewis?
Jacko
Guest
Thats it Fightfair. Its not a fair decision to anybody. Constantly making decisions on the run and todays decision is always different to yesterdays
Bigj
Guest
So you think that a quarter of a million people are going to boycott rugby league for one person, you poor damn small minded typical Sydney supporter you do realise that the nrl does exist outside of Sydney right??? Oh that's right you don't please join us in the world that is reality, no one is bigger than the game not even Wally Lewis he was kicked out because he got to big for his boots and Andrew fifta is doing the same thing.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The chicken or the egg? Perhaps. But the pitchforks would stay in the barn if their wielders weren't looking for a reason to use them. The media panders to what already exists. Remember, they are people too. But you can't control them unless you control yourself.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Chicken and the egg here . Do the pitch fork wielders only wield due to media encouragement or do the media write to provoke them . I'd say the pitch forks would stay in the barn if the media had integrity , but as we know all media is agenda driven in this day and age .
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Fiddle loving folk from backward towns in Queensland are the vocal minority, and not the silent majority - despite what you read in the papers. A quarter of a million people reside in The Shire, and most of them aren't happy with the the NRL or the media. It only takes one vocal person with influence to set off chain reaction.
Fightfair
Guest
Should the coach be accountable to. Maninga has visited his brother in jail. Came out in a news paper in support of his parole. I wonder what the family of the girl Bevin meaning a raped and murdered felt about that.
Rob
Guest
I think players have been getting away with stupid, repulsive behaviour for a long time. A lot of players and a lot of good ones also come from a rough background. I think what the NRL is attempting to do in addressing the image of the game is a good thing. The no dickhead policy works for me no matter how good you are. Play well next year and keep yourself clean of controversy and I'm sure you will be back in a Rep Jersey. Continue making dumb decisions and you should leave.
BigJ
Roar Guru
I seriously doubt that that many people would do that, judging by the many posts people are more than happy to watch him go, dimwit..!!!!
Jacko
Guest
Yes I think Thurston part of the Bulldogs gang rape affair. Wasnt Greenberg the Ceo of the doggies at the time and didnt he try to do a cover-up?
Fightfair
Guest
Thurston has been arrested previously has he not? And involved in a rape scandal? Hasnt ever stopped him being picked for rep football. Hasn't Holmes been arrested earlier this year? He got picked. Ferguson has had issues. Good to see the nrl and Greenberg are consistent.
Rob
Guest
Players need to be accountable at some point. Maybe this is small step in the right direction. The players are well paid by Rugby League and in so are responsible for the image they project to the public. I hope they stand by the ethical standards they claim to be applying to Andrew Fafita it's well overdue. If we keep saying it's nothing worst than others have done, we are making excuse and never move forward as a sport. I applaud Queensland on the Origin ban and Roosters over Mitchell Pierce suspension. Stay consistent and you may get the message across. At least they will respect the decision.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Think about dimwit. If enough people follow suit (Cronulla fans for instance), then the NRL are forced to make changes under pressure from the people throwing cash at them.
Bigj
Guest
So to sum up you'll be a ford driving, tooheys drinking Optus phone calling, mitre 10 using New South Wales supporter and that changes you how????
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
I'm with Baz. Actions speak louder than words, so I'm boycotting each and every sponsor of the NRL until Fafita and Radradra are re-instated. This means that I will be forgoing products and services from the following businesses/brands. Bundaberg Rum, Powerade, Accor Hotels, Downer, Woolfblass, Schick, Crown Resorts, Coca-Cola, Harvey Norman, Steeden, GIO, NIB, Hankook Tyres, Home Timber and Hardware, KFC, AAMI, VB, Holden, and Telstra.
bigJ
Guest
no one has hacked my account mate, just have to make more sense with posts if i want people to read my articles, cant go wildy shooting off all canons all the time.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well said bigJ - has someone hacked your roar ID - you've been talking a lot of sense all of a sudden. Hopefully Fifita is getting that sort of advice. The best thing for him would be to put his head down, stay out of trouble and come out next year and have a cracking season. He's certainly got it in him.
bigJ
Guest
maybe he should try his hand at boxing, it would be good to see him get punched out, maybe he should fight Gallen first, that would draw a crowd, but seriuosly this whole thing is getting way beyond the joke. But if he wants to let a thing like this get to him then maybe he shouldnt be playing, he should calm himself let this slide clean up his act (not that he has done anything really that wrong) and let this go under the bridge and focus on his playing ability.