Andrew Fifita on his new outlook and desire to be a Kangaroo for life

THINGS have changed in the Australia camp since Mal Meninga took charge. And Andrew Fifita is more ready than ever to embrace the coach’s vision.

ONE of the first things Mal Meninga did when Andrew Fifita arrived in camp Sunday evening was deliver a crash course on Kangaroos Culture 101.

Fifita had not played for his country since 2013, having been ruled out last year because of his on-field support for one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.

Much has changed around the Australian set-up since Meninga took the reins last year, and Fifita is eager to embrace the coach’s vision.

The Cronulla prop said he wanted to remain in the Kangaroos team “the rest of my career’’.

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Andrew Fifita is embracing his shot at redemption. Photo: Mark Evans

Fifita spoke about his Anzac Test recall with the same passion he showed at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night when he verbally attacked a feral Wests Tigers fan who had thrown a can of beer at Eels-bound Tigers playmaker Mitchell Moses.

The rampaging prop revealed he had caught a can of Jim Beam in Canberra in 2013, and went to the effort of opening it, taking a sip and saying “cheers’’ to the disgruntled local.

Meninga phoned Fifita after weekend injuries to fellow front-rowers Aaron Woods and Shannon Boyd.

Fifita initially screened Meninga’s call because “I thought it was journos or something’’. He had his bags packed to join the Tongan side in camp in Rooty Hill.

While he overlooked Fifita for the Four Nations, Meninga said “our game has seen some wonderful redemptive stories throughout its history, and I can only think this will be another one’’.

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“When I got in Mal said, ‘we’ll have a chat’, and he showed me what the players did for last year’s Anzac Day Test, how they (came up with) a policy and made it about the players, what we stand for, what the jersey means, what the Kangaroo means for them, what the crest means, all the little things,’’ Fifita said.

“It was good to get that knowledge. I’m ready to take it with both hands and buy into this culture. I really want to be here and be in this team for the rest of my career.

“At my lowest point, I thought maybe (I’ll never represent Australia again), but the way things change, the things I’ve learned, and just trying to stay positive, it’s always been a goal since 2013 to get back into this jersey.

‘’I had the opportunity last year to get back into it and my game did the talking. I finally got back to where I was in 2013, but unfortunately things happened off the field.

“I’m quite happy with where I am right now in life, what I do off field and the what I do on field.’’

Fifita says he has put his former troubles behind him. Photo: Mark Evans

Even skipper Cameron Smith had noticed a change in Fifita, who had “paid his dues’’ for the show of support for Loveridge.

“We played against Cronulla this year and I think I’d seen a change in his persona on the field — all he was worried about was doing his job for the team, nothing else,’’ Smith said.

“He wasn’t worried about sledging or anything else outside of what he needed to do.’’

Fifita let his emotions get the better of him on Saturday night when he witnessed a Tigers fan try to peg Moses with a can.

The Tigers faithful had hurled abuse at Woods through the game and displayed offensive banners targeted at departing stars Woods, Moses and James Tedesco.

Fifita, who spent two seasons at the Tigers, labelled the banners “disgraceful’’, and was especially upset with the beer thrower.

“I said to (the fan), ‘you’re a disgrace to that jersey’, and ‘you can’t call yourself a loyal fan by throwing your beers at your own players’,’’ Fifita said.

“For a fan to throw a full can, dead centre, trying to intentionally hit us, if that can hit one of us ... what if something really bad happened?

“I’ve got a family to go home to, friends to meet, and it’s not called for. To come out of the sheds and see that, it brought me back to when I was coming out of (the club).’’

“I didn’t even know I was moving to the Sharks. Everything was already done before I even had the chance to look elsewhere. I walked into a room and they said, ‘we can’t keep you here’.

“I feel for Woodsy, but I also know they’ll want to go out with a bang. You saw it with Michael Ennis with us last year when he was going out. Those boys won’t give in, and they will want to play finals football and try to take it all the way, and use that as motivation.’’