Andrew Fifita says Tonga will play for free if they get to take on Australia
ANDREW Fifita says Tonga will do whatever they need to do in order to guarantee a clash with Australia, even if that means playing for free.
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ON the back of the success of last year’s World Cup, this is the game so many rugby league fans now want to see at the end of this year.
And powerhouse prop Andrew Fifita has put his money where his mouth is, declaring Tonga will play for nothing if it means getting a crack at Australia this October.
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Following an appeal from Tongan coach Kristian Woolf to NRL boss Todd Greenberg to bring down the roadblocks and make this game a reality, a clearly frustrated Fifita told The Saturday Telegraph: “I couldn’t give a rat’s arse what the Aussies get. We just want the game.”
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With initial plans to stage the Test in Hawaii or on the United States mainland rejected, the New Zealand Rugby League has now refused to allow it to be played in Auckland the week after the scheduled clash between the Kiwis and Kangaroos on October 13.
The only hope now is if Greenberg can use his influence to get the match approved to be played in Australia, either in Sydney or in Brisbane.
But time is running out to get the deal done.
And if money is the problem, Fifita said that was not an excuse.
While Australian players get $20,000 a Test to pull on their green and gold jumpers, Fifita said: “Like all the boys said to me, they don’t care about the match fee.
“But every single time it looks like we are going to get a game a roadblock comes up in front of us.”
Fifita has already turned his back on more than $100,000 he would have earned playing for Australia and State of Origin for NSW.
Told of Fifita’s offer to play for nothing, Woolf was not surprised: “Plenty of people do find fault in Andrew.
“But I will you tell you one thing, he is willing to stand up for what he believes in and he is willing to stand up for others as well.”
But while the Fifita and Jason Taumalolo inspired Tonga was the story of last year’s World Cup, it seems everyone in power now wants to forget they exist.
This match was first mooted last November when even Mal Meninga supported the idea.
But it appears almost a year of ongoing negotiations have now fallen through.
If it doesn’t get the green light at the end of this year, Tonga won’t get another chance to play Australia until the 2022 World Cup.
“I am not being rude or anything but the most successful team at the World Cup was Tonga,” Fifita added.
“And they keep trying to say let’s build the international game.
“We aren’t building anything if we are not involved.
“I respect the Australian and New Zealand game, that has always gone on.
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“But something has to happen with us.”
Fifita was also convinced Tonga would have a good shot at upsetting the Kangaroos given the representative retirement of Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
“Australia is going through a lot of changes,” he said.
“They have lost their whole spine.
“Look at our team. We are ready now. I can’t be waiting three or four years down the track.
“We want to build from now. We just want to be known as a dominant force, as one of the top tier nations.
“I really don’t know how we can get this game on but I know everyone from the fan base wants it to happen.
“I will tell you now, you put it on out at ANZ Stadium and it will be packed out.”
Fifita was also angry at the lack of support Tonga has received from the Rugby League Players Association — and questioned if not allowing Tonga to play more Tests was a way of forcing players to return to Australia and New Zealand.