Cronulla star Andrew Fifita revealed his emotion after crossing for his first try since the shocking throat injury that nearly ended his stellar career.
The prop crossed late in the Sharks’ golden point victory over South Sydney, rolling back the years for a score that was reminiscent of his effort to seal the 2016 Grand Final and deliver Cronulla their inaugural premiership.
On scoring the try, he embarked on an emotional celebration that crowned his comeback from a tracheal injury that was him placed in an induced coma in 2021.
“That’s why I was a lot more emotional when I went over,” he said. “It’s been a long time, especially for my missus. What she went through, especially in this round, that’s why it felt way more emotional.
“I think the excitement got the better of me and I started pointing at her saying ‘see, you don’t believe me’. It did get the better of me. I turned and the boys were sprinting at me. They know where I was.”
“We watched my brother’s game today and he scored for Wakey (in the Super League) off a similar try. My missus was spraying me and I was sitting on top of the bunker bar just down the end and they told me to shut up.
“It’s Women in League round so I wanted to do this for her, but she didn’t believe me. I told her I was going to go over – I had a feeling – and it came true.”
The crowd reciprocated the emotion. As Fifita marched back into position for the kick-off, the sellout crowd chanted his name. Amazingly given the din, the prop did not even notice.
“I honestly didn’t hear it,” he said. “Everyone was saying it, but I shit you not, I was saying to the boys ‘what do you mean Andrew chant’.
“When you’re out there it’s different so you can’t really hear the crowd. You hear them roaring, but I didn’t hear it, and that’s what everyone was saying. I came in here and Dale [Finucane] was going ‘Andrew’. I’m grateful. At least I’ve left my touch on here, so I’m all good.”
The road back has been long. After five days in a coma, Fifita had to learn to talk again and had even sent his partner a message to say goodbye as he was headed to the hospital.
Once he got back on his feet, he found himself in reserve grade at the Newtown Jets.
Andrew Fifita. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“I wanted to play, and I’m forever grateful for Newtown because they brought the love of footy back in for me,” he said.
“Playing big minutes and having some fun on the ball, it was just one of those times. Did I think I’d get back? I knew I’d get back to the NRL – that was always there – but the thing for me was about getting back after the accident.”
Despite the visual similarities, he laughed off comparisons to his famous 2016 try.
“Please,” he joked. “That was the best try in the club’s history so it won’t go near it. I’m just grateful to get over the paint. You give one, you get one.”
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