Andrew Fifita

Andrew Fifita ( to, ʻAnitelū Fifita) (born 28 June 1989) is a retired professional rugby league footballer who played as a . He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.

Fifita previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League, and has played at representative level for the Indigenous All Stars, New South Wales City Origin and New South Wales in the State of Origin series.

Fifita is known for his tackle-breaks, strong fend and his step. He was a part of the Cronulla team that won their maiden premiership title in the 2016 season, scoring the equalising try that led to the game winning conversion from James Maloney.

Early years

Fifita was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, of Indigenous Australian and Tongan descent. Andrew Fifita's twin brother, David Fifita plays for the Wakefield Trinity as a .

Fifita began playing rugby league with twin brother David in the Penrith junior rugby league system before moving to Griffith, New South Wales. He attended Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown and Wyndham College. He played junior football for the Doonside Roos, St Patricks Blacktown and the Griffith Waratahs.

As a teenager, Fifita trialled with the Sydney Roosters and the North Sydney Bears, but was considered lightweight, even though he was playing as a winger or centre at the time. Fifita said he, "tried eating and all that stuff but it didn't work and then one day I just blew out. It wasn't until I was 17 or 18 that I put the size on. Maybe it was the grog, I don't know. I was seriously pushing to get to 80 kg back then. I think I was about 70 kg." Fifita would eventually sign with the Wests Tigers and later played in their NYC team in 2009, including playing at prop in the 2009 NYC Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm in the 22–24 loss.

His twin brother David also played lower-grade for the Tigers. Fifita is not related to John Fifita, a former St George Dragons player. Fifita's elder brother Latu Fifita played for Workington Town in the Kingstone Press Championship.

Playing career

2010

In round 2, Fifita made his first grade debut for the Wests Tigers against Sydney Roosters, coming off the interchange bench where he scored a try in the 44–32 loss at the Sydney Football Stadium. In round 23, against the Penrith Panthers, Fifita scored two tries in the Tigers 43–18 win at Campbelltown Stadium. Fifita finished his debut year in the NRL with 5 tries from 22 matches. On 25 October, Fifita made his international debut for Tonga, starting at prop in the 6–22 loss against Samoa at Parramatta Stadium. Fifita commented after match saying, "It was a good experience, it's not about the loss here, it's about the experience and about looking forward to the future for the World Cup and the years ahead."

2011

Fifita was chosen to participate in a New South Wales developmental squad. In the off-season he had dropped about 10 kilos to be playing at about 109 kg. Fifita started the season at prop, but was dropped from first grade by Tim Sheens after round 19 and never returned. "I was always saying, 'Let me play, let me play,'" Fifita said. "But he just said go to NSW Cup. I was pulling 80 minutes each game there, what can you do? You're up against the coach. You can't say anything. At the end I had kind of given up. I thought there was no more first grade for me."

On 15 July, Fifita signed with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on a 3-year deal, starting from 2012 after was released from the Wests Tigers, along with Bryce Gibbs, so that the club could accommodate Adam Blair under the salary cap. Fifita finished his last year with the Wests Tigers with 3 tries in 17 matches.

2012

On 9 February, Fifita played for the Indigenous All Stars against the NRL All Stars, starting at prop in the 28–36 loss. In round 1, Fifita made his debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks against his former club, the Wests Tigers, playing off the interchange bench in the 16–17 loss at Leichhardt Oval. In round 4, against the North Queensland Cowboys, Fifita scored his first club try for the Sharks in the 20–14 win at 1300SMILES Stadium. With the Sharks starting 2012 well, and with his old club struggling to win early games, Fifita commented, "We have an unbelievable bond. We're so tight. Compared to the Tigers everyone is so tight. We have the same dressing rooms. It's just more of a friendship. We're all just brothers and it's no split groups, no nothing, it's who we are." Fifita finished his first year with the Sharks with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 5 tries.

2013

On 9 February, Fifita played for the Indigenous All Stars against the NRL All Stars, starting at prop in the 32–6 win. Fifita proved to be a revelation for the Sharks in the 2013 NRL season and was rewarded with representative selections for NSW City Origin and the New South Wales State of Origin teams. On 21 April, he played for City Origin against the NSW Country Origin side, where he played off the interchange bench and scored a try in the 12–18 loss. On 5 June, Fifita made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales against Queensland, where he played off the interchange bench in the Blues 14–6 win at ANZ Stadium. After continuing his good form for the Sharks and helping them to a 5th-place finish, Fifita was selected as the 2013 Dally M of the year after being the Sharks highest tryscorer with 9 tries from 25 matches.

Fifita was chosen in the 24-man Australian squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. On 26 October, he made his international debut for Australia against England where he played off the interchange bench in the 28–20 win at Millennium Stadium. In his third match for Australia, against Ireland, Fifita scored his first international try in the Kangaroos 50–0 win at Thomond Park. In the Kangaroos semi-final match against Fiji, Fifita scored the last try of the match in the 64–0 win. It was the last try ever described by BBC
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