Andrew Fifita hits out at Cronulla at lack of recognition for his Tonga selection

ANDREW Fifita’s running battle with Cronulla management has continued with the Sharks star taking his club to task over its lack of recognition of his international call-up with Tonga.

There’s no doubting Fifita’s commitment to the cause. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

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ANDREW Fifita believes Cronulla has shown Tonga a lack of recognition as he prepares to face Australia for the first time.

Fifita sat and watched on as the club paid respect to his teammates for their selection in representative sides, at the Monty Porter Medal Night earlier this month.

It’s the second time in less than two months the 29-year-old has butted heads with Sharks management. Fifita launched a tirade at Shane Flanagan in the coach’s box after he scored a try in the Sharks’ round 23 win over North Queensland, in response to criticism he had received from the Cronulla mentor.

Fifita isn’t happy with his club’s response. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

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On Monday, Fifita also made a cheeky dig at the club’s social media account who have congratulated the club’s Junior Kiwis, Junior Kangaroos, Kangaroos and PM’s XIII representatives.

“If I was in the Australia (team) the club would be proud that I was in it,” Fifita said.

“I am still waiting for my Instagram post that I am playing for Tonga from the club.

“I guess most of the boys want to be acknowledged as a force team. We just want to be known.

It’s another not-so-subtle message for Cronulla. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

“I remember our CEO (Barry Russell) sitting there and giving all the credits to all the Australian players and Junior Kangaroos and I was waiting for my name to be called, just for representing on the international stage.

“There was no Tonga, no PNG for Chicko (James Segeyaro) and that. It’s always good but I just wish our little tier-two nations could be recognised too. It is still our international team and we want to be recognised.

“I don’t think we are there yet but if our team goes out and gets the job done on the weekend I guess we will be known as a forceful team.”

There’s no doubting Fifita’s commitment to the cause. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Fifita also revealed he has delayed knee surgery to play Australia on Saturday. His troublesome knee restricted Fifita at times throughout the season but he managed to play in all but one of Cronulla’s 27 matches.

“I am booked in for two surgeries — straight after the game and then a few weeks later,” Fifita said. “This year was the toughest year I’ve had playing football. Playing with the knee injury and having that leadership role and the ‘C’ next to my name most games — with a lot of injuries in our team someone had to step up.

“It was a tough year mentality and physically. I couldn’t run around with the kids. It was about rehab and putting my team first.”

Fifita is proud of being able to represent Australia and Tonga. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

While Saturday’s match is the first between the two countries, it also doubles as the first time Fifita will play against the side with which he won a 2013 World Cup. Fifita played with Australia last year before ruling himself out of the World Cup squad to switch his allegiances to Tonga, even after he had been picked in the Kangaroos squad.

Australian coach Mal Meninga understood Fifita’s decision but he drew criticism from then-Kangaroos halfback Cooper Cronk for the lateness of his withdrawal.

“We copped a lot of criticism at first,” Fifita said. “Especially from players, journos, Australian and New Zealand people. I have two nationalities. If you don’t have two nationalities you shouldn’t talk about how I’m feeling.

“I have the pleasure to have played for the Indigenous and Australia. To have the pleasure to play for my dad (Sione) — he is grateful. He cries every time I walk out onto this field in the red jersey.”

The Sharks teammates both know what this game means. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Fifita’s Cronulla teammate Aaron Woods — who is expected to line-up against Tonga on Saturday — said Fifita had been exciting about this match for months.

“He’s spoken about it all year, he’s come to training and like, ‘the Test match is on, it’s off, it’s somewhere, it’s back here’, so it was a big sigh of relief once he knew the game was finally on,” Woods said. “To see this game go ahead is exciting, not just for him, but the whole rugby league world.”

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Originally published as Andrew Fifita hits out at Cronulla at lack of recognition for his Tonga selection