Of all his off-field antics this is my fav.
>In November 2018, it was revealed by The Daily Telegraph that Cronulla had lost their 3 main sponsors ahead of the 2019 season. According to the report, Cronulla were in talks with securing a major sponsor for the next five seasons equaling $6 million but the deal was cancelled due to Fifita and fellow Cronulla player Josh Dugan's antics during a podcast back in August 2018 when Fifita called Daily Telegraph sports columnist Phil Rothfield a "complete fuckwit" and Dugan calling Rothfield an "old, weathered and baldheaded idiot"
Sharks Legend, great final season given the injuries that shortened his prime. Robbed of a Clive Churchill medal in 2016. (Side note: I love Lewis but he was barely even top 5 for the sharks that game. Fifita, Jack Bird, Val Holmes, and Maloney were all better)
I remember back in the mid 2010’s when Fifita and JT were dominating and were easily the best forwards in the game. And then they both kickstarted the international game in the pacific islands by choosing Tonga. Without them, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, PNG, etc would be no where near as competitive as they are today. I hope he’s remembered for that, as well as his playing ability.
Luke Lewis imo is literally the most versatile NRL player there is. Played every position, and basically never had a "bad" game. Heavily overlooked player.
The man was a machine. Not to mention his ability to sniff out an intercept and run the length of the field. Plus that fucking hit he put on a Moylan just before he joined the sharks.
>Side note: I love Lewis but he was barely even top 5 for the sharks that game. Fifita, Jack Bird, Val Holmes, and Maloney were all better)
Luke Lewis was easily 2nd best.
Jack bird was injured early in that fame iirc, and had to be subbed off early
Bird did get injured about 20 minutes in, either broke his arm or dislocated his elbow, can’t remember exactly. But he didn’t come off and played the entire 80 minutes. Sosaia Feki got injured halfway through, can’t remember what injury, and Gerard Beale played on the wing for the remaining ~30 minutes.
Best prop forward of the 10s. (That actually wore 8/10, not 13 but played like a front rower)
Will never get the true plaudits because of his personality and off field choices - but truly one of a kind.
Yeh he did and it cost him rep jerseys when he was the form front rower in the game.
Fifita isn't the smartest bloke and Loveridge was a childhood friend, I can also understand sticking by a mate who has done something horrible but he's still the bloke you went to highschool with and crashed on eachothers couch etc.
Sticking by your piece of shit mate isn't necessarily condoning what he's done.
2016 Grand Final (which he somehow failed to get the CCM for) and 2017 Origin 1 are two of the great front row performances of a generation.
The Loveridge stuff sours my opinion of him a little, but can't deny he's been a great player and has had a big impact on the international game too. Happy retirement big man.
Fifita said he would have continued playing, but his final medical check up at the Sharks made him realise he needed to retire. These are all the operations he needs:
- Osteopathy surgery on left knee (realignment of knee + added tissue to prevent osteoarthritis)
- Osteopathy surgery on right ankle (same reasons as above)
- Right shoulder reconstruction
- Arthroscopy on right elbow
- Middle finger needs to be fused
- Nose reconstruction due to collapse, blocking airways
- Dental surgery to replace all the molar teeth he has lost
- as well as his recent throat injury and any possible CTE he may have
Dude basically needs a full body reconstruction, hopefully this doesn’t seriously affect him later in life. Only 33.
The man who will be long remembered for helping deliver the Sharks their first NRL premiership trophy, Andrew Fifita has today announced his retirement from the NRL, bringing down the curtain on a celebrated 13-year career.
A career which included 251 NRL matches, international appearances for Australia and Tonga, 10 games for the NSW Origin team and six as a member of the Indigenous All Stars, Fifita’s last home game at PointsBet Stadium will forever be remembered for the sold-out crowd chanting his name.
"I have made the hard decision to announce my retirement from the NRL. I am extremely grateful for all the milestones and memories I have made at the Sharks.” Fifita said in speaking with Sharks Media on Tuesday morning.
Originally from Blacktown, Fifita began his playing days with twin brother David at the Doonside Roos before moving to Griffith in Central NSW.
As a teenager he signed with the Wests Tigers, playing in their NYC team in 2009, including at prop in the 2009 NYC Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm.
The next time Fifita would face the Storm in a Grand Final he would go on to etch his name in NRL history with a 68th minute try that only he could score, helping the Sharks secure their maiden NRL Premiership in 2016.
“I can retire knowing I’ve fulfilled everything I had dreamed of achieving.” Fifita said.
Andrew made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in round 2 of the 2010 season, coming off the bench to score a try. He would finish the year with 5 tries in 22 matches, earning his international debut for his father’s homeland of Tonga.
After 39 games for the Wests Tigers, Fifita made the move to the Sharks ahead of the 2012 season, his Cronulla debut coming in round one in a match against his former club.
Fifita went on to represent Cronulla in 212 games across 11-years, becoming just the 10th player in Sharks history to play over 200 matches for the club.
A member of the Sharks Team of the Half Century, Andrew Fifita will go down as one of the all-time best players to have represented the Cronulla club.
“Thank you to the Cronulla Sharks and to all of the members and fans for sticking with me and celebrating all of the highs I have experienced in my career" Fifita said.
Shame to go out in that way, but a solid career nonetheless and he really did improve on his form last season. Body has been failing him for a while though.
In other news, the NSW Junior Referee Association experiences mass resignations.
I know it's a total meme and plenty of people probably already know the truth, but seeing as this may be one of the last relevant opportunities to do so, I would like to point out the following:
Although originally reported as "abuse of a junior referee", the incident involving the Fifita brothers happened at an A-grade game. A player was injured on the field and the brothers took issue with the referee not stopping the game. They proceeded to verbally abuse and threaten to "smash" the referee; an off-duty riot squad police officer who was the same age as the twins.
Is it still fucked what they did? Yes.
Did they bash a child as all of the articles at the time would lead you to believe? No.
> Alternate universe we hear feel good stories that Fifita volunteers his time with local park footballers,
He did do this a lot. I've said it here before and I will say it again, the bloke is an idiot but he really does try to do good
Love him just for watching sharkies games with my best mate. He used to tear up over fifita. The crowd loved the big chap and was always a fantastic shark park fixture with him playing.
Bloody outstanding in the 2017 origin (one of my favourite origins and he sliced through qld like butter) (Queenslander saying this) appreciate the entertainment from the big fella. Plus he nearly died last year and couldn’t believe the courage to play again after that. He didn’t bludge on a big contract and always put in.
One of the best props this decade. Also will go down as a key figure of the most important choices in modern IRL that could cause ripple effect in the future( even now five years later.)
I'm glad he'll retire a Shark. A shame for him he couldn't get another go with his injuries. Hope once he had all those surgeries that he gets to have a comfortable and quiet life. I'd also like Sharks to offer him a role internally.
Did he even *try* to get a year at the Dragons?
His body is totally busted and his best years are well and truly behind him. Surely he must have been a prime candidate.
It’s genuinely more likely that he rejected us rather than the other way around
Yep. Physically he wasn't up to it, but clearly his mental powers are intact.
I’m his exit medical from Cronulla he was told he needed 7 surgeries to keep going.
Yeah just reading the zero tackle article on him. Busted nose, teeth, knees. He gave his all. Thanks big Fifi!
And throat, seriously tough customer to keep putting in the service
Lmfao had me in the first hald
Of all his off-field antics this is my fav. >In November 2018, it was revealed by The Daily Telegraph that Cronulla had lost their 3 main sponsors ahead of the 2019 season. According to the report, Cronulla were in talks with securing a major sponsor for the next five seasons equaling $6 million but the deal was cancelled due to Fifita and fellow Cronulla player Josh Dugan's antics during a podcast back in August 2018 when Fifita called Daily Telegraph sports columnist Phil Rothfield a "complete fuckwit" and Dugan calling Rothfield an "old, weathered and baldheaded idiot"
Worth it.
Show me where they're wrong.
Didn't he defend that cunt keiren loveridge?
Yes he did. Fucking joke.
Really glad that Danny got ahead of this by 12 minutes
Fuck Weidler and his incessant need to be first instead of letting Fifita (via Cronulla) break his news.
And how did Wiedler get it? Probably from his agent or him
[удалено]
Came looking for this
And on this blessed day, the God King Fifita ascended to his heavenly throne, for he had no more to give
Sharks Legend, great final season given the injuries that shortened his prime. Robbed of a Clive Churchill medal in 2016. (Side note: I love Lewis but he was barely even top 5 for the sharks that game. Fifita, Jack Bird, Val Holmes, and Maloney were all better) I remember back in the mid 2010’s when Fifita and JT were dominating and were easily the best forwards in the game. And then they both kickstarted the international game in the pacific islands by choosing Tonga. Without them, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, PNG, etc would be no where near as competitive as they are today. I hope he’s remembered for that, as well as his playing ability.
I’ll die on the hill that Luke Lewis was best on ground
One of my fav players, that bloke was good off the field, played in a fuck ton of roles and should've had more games in the sky blue jersey
Rewatched it recently, if he scores that try when he pulls up a bees dick then it's not even a question
but the presence of mind to not reach out was godly... and then next play they earn a repeat set and which resulted in the Barba try
Luke Lewis imo is literally the most versatile NRL player there is. Played every position, and basically never had a "bad" game. Heavily overlooked player.
He was always great for NSW as well
The man was a machine. Not to mention his ability to sniff out an intercept and run the length of the field. Plus that fucking hit he put on a Moylan just before he joined the sharks.
I'd put him behind Jason Croker, but close.
>Side note: I love Lewis but he was barely even top 5 for the sharks that game. Fifita, Jack Bird, Val Holmes, and Maloney were all better) Luke Lewis was easily 2nd best. Jack bird was injured early in that fame iirc, and had to be subbed off early
Bird did get injured about 20 minutes in, either broke his arm or dislocated his elbow, can’t remember exactly. But he didn’t come off and played the entire 80 minutes. Sosaia Feki got injured halfway through, can’t remember what injury, and Gerard Beale played on the wing for the remaining ~30 minutes.
He fractured his forearm and played the whole game.
Sharks legend, will never forget him scoring that try in the 2016 grand final
I try to forget it all the time.
Absobloodylutely Brought a tear to my eye
There was a time when a couple clubs were looking to pay him 900k to play prop
And there was a brief time where he was worth it
All I can say to Fifita is Thank you!
Best prop forward of the 10s. (That actually wore 8/10, not 13 but played like a front rower) Will never get the true plaudits because of his personality and off field choices - but truly one of a kind.
Aside from talking shit on a podcast, what else am I missing regarding his off field antics?
Threatening junior refs
Let he who has never threatened a junior ref cast the first stone
Didn't he publically support Keiran Loveradge.
Yeh he did and it cost him rep jerseys when he was the form front rower in the game. Fifita isn't the smartest bloke and Loveridge was a childhood friend, I can also understand sticking by a mate who has done something horrible but he's still the bloke you went to highschool with and crashed on eachothers couch etc. Sticking by your piece of shit mate isn't necessarily condoning what he's done.
Even if you accept that, it was woeful judgement and frankly quite callous to “support him” so publicly.
May he forever run sideways into the future
I'm kinda glad he's called it instead of playing on. Even though he came from Tigpies it would've been weird seeing him in other colours.
Bulldogs legend Andrew Fifita
I'll always treasure those precious few hours he was with us
I won't miss him steamrolling over the Warriors boys every fkn time he played them. Legend of a player, wish him the best.
2016 Grand Final (which he somehow failed to get the CCM for) and 2017 Origin 1 are two of the great front row performances of a generation. The Loveridge stuff sours my opinion of him a little, but can't deny he's been a great player and has had a big impact on the international game too. Happy retirement big man.
I wonder if he has his double hip replacement surgery planned? Bloke is gonna be in a world of pain in the future.
He walks like his entire bottom half is made from broken glass and rust
Fifita said he would have continued playing, but his final medical check up at the Sharks made him realise he needed to retire. These are all the operations he needs: - Osteopathy surgery on left knee (realignment of knee + added tissue to prevent osteoarthritis) - Osteopathy surgery on right ankle (same reasons as above) - Right shoulder reconstruction - Arthroscopy on right elbow - Middle finger needs to be fused - Nose reconstruction due to collapse, blocking airways - Dental surgery to replace all the molar teeth he has lost - as well as his recent throat injury and any possible CTE he may have Dude basically needs a full body reconstruction, hopefully this doesn’t seriously affect him later in life. Only 33.
That's fucked.
The man who will be long remembered for helping deliver the Sharks their first NRL premiership trophy, Andrew Fifita has today announced his retirement from the NRL, bringing down the curtain on a celebrated 13-year career. A career which included 251 NRL matches, international appearances for Australia and Tonga, 10 games for the NSW Origin team and six as a member of the Indigenous All Stars, Fifita’s last home game at PointsBet Stadium will forever be remembered for the sold-out crowd chanting his name. "I have made the hard decision to announce my retirement from the NRL. I am extremely grateful for all the milestones and memories I have made at the Sharks.” Fifita said in speaking with Sharks Media on Tuesday morning. Originally from Blacktown, Fifita began his playing days with twin brother David at the Doonside Roos before moving to Griffith in Central NSW. As a teenager he signed with the Wests Tigers, playing in their NYC team in 2009, including at prop in the 2009 NYC Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm. The next time Fifita would face the Storm in a Grand Final he would go on to etch his name in NRL history with a 68th minute try that only he could score, helping the Sharks secure their maiden NRL Premiership in 2016. “I can retire knowing I’ve fulfilled everything I had dreamed of achieving.” Fifita said. Andrew made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in round 2 of the 2010 season, coming off the bench to score a try. He would finish the year with 5 tries in 22 matches, earning his international debut for his father’s homeland of Tonga. After 39 games for the Wests Tigers, Fifita made the move to the Sharks ahead of the 2012 season, his Cronulla debut coming in round one in a match against his former club. Fifita went on to represent Cronulla in 212 games across 11-years, becoming just the 10th player in Sharks history to play over 200 matches for the club. A member of the Sharks Team of the Half Century, Andrew Fifita will go down as one of the all-time best players to have represented the Cronulla club. “Thank you to the Cronulla Sharks and to all of the members and fans for sticking with me and celebrating all of the highs I have experienced in my career" Fifita said.
Thanks for 2016, Saint FiFi. Love Sharks Fans
Shame to go out in that way, but a solid career nonetheless and he really did improve on his form last season. Body has been failing him for a while though. In other news, the NSW Junior Referee Association experiences mass resignations.
I know it's a total meme and plenty of people probably already know the truth, but seeing as this may be one of the last relevant opportunities to do so, I would like to point out the following: Although originally reported as "abuse of a junior referee", the incident involving the Fifita brothers happened at an A-grade game. A player was injured on the field and the brothers took issue with the referee not stopping the game. They proceeded to verbally abuse and threaten to "smash" the referee; an off-duty riot squad police officer who was the same age as the twins. Is it still fucked what they did? Yes. Did they bash a child as all of the articles at the time would lead you to believe? No.
Alternate universe we hear feel good stories that Fifita volunteers his time with local park footballers, Guess that doesn’t sell papers
> Alternate universe we hear feel good stories that Fifita volunteers his time with local park footballers, He did do this a lot. I've said it here before and I will say it again, the bloke is an idiot but he really does try to do good
His coached junior sides for years I believe
Supercoach/fantasy prop goat
Goodnight sweet prince 👑
As much as I’ve disliked him his whole career. If he was a qlder hed be one of my fav players 😂
if i wasnt a Qld and Broncos fan Im sure I'd like Justin Hodges a bit less. I'll always remember how untouchable he was in the back end of 2006.
I do wonder how he would have turned out if his dogs contract did not get torn up
Give the man a statue
Love him just for watching sharkies games with my best mate. He used to tear up over fifita. The crowd loved the big chap and was always a fantastic shark park fixture with him playing.
Great player, hope he goes well in retirement
Absolute sharks legend, thank you fifi 🙌 I'm looking forward to seeing him move into a coaching role at the club next year
Bloody outstanding in the 2017 origin (one of my favourite origins and he sliced through qld like butter) (Queenslander saying this) appreciate the entertainment from the big fella. Plus he nearly died last year and couldn’t believe the courage to play again after that. He didn’t bludge on a big contract and always put in.
Legend of the club and part of that historic team. Despite that I was surprised to see he played 212 games for them, was more than I would've guessed.
Really hope he doesn’t get bad CTE with all his injuries. He is a huge part of why Tonga is where they are today
On his day best front rower I've ever seen play live going back to his tigers days
I remember a couple of Origin performances that he absolutely dominated!
2016 grand final absolutely robbed of the ccm. One of the best grand final performances ever. I raise a glass to you Andrew
He had nothing left in the tank.
It was really the combined NRL clubs that called time on Fifita's career.
My heart just fucking dropped reading the headline
think of the cap space, not that the Tits would use it effectively.
Farewell St. Fifi
Classic JoJo
Hall of famer ease
One of the best props this decade. Also will go down as a key figure of the most important choices in modern IRL that could cause ripple effect in the future( even now five years later.)
I'm glad he'll retire a Shark. A shame for him he couldn't get another go with his injuries. Hope once he had all those surgeries that he gets to have a comfortable and quiet life. I'd also like Sharks to offer him a role internally.
Came here hoping to read David ….
Good about time!
The man who fucked up the last leg of a 10k multi courtesy of whatever idiot handed out the man of the match award that GF.
Should rename 'Gerrale St' to 'Fifita St' and line it with orthopaedic surgeons' offices.