Andrew Fifita shrugs off bad boy image to become leader for Sharks

You could call Andrew Fifita a grub. A thug. A bully. Whatever you like. It doesn’t matter. All that counts is his family and the Cronulla teammates who look up to the NRL bad boy as a leader.

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With a hint of Willie Mason, a lashing of John Hopoate and a serving of Wendell Sailor, Andrew Fifita has become the NRL bad boy that fans love to hate.

And the Cronulla Sharks enforcer couldn’t give a “rat’s arse’’.

“I don’t care what the average Joe Blows think of me,’’ Fifita said ahead of Friday night’s showdown against the Storm.

“I don’t care what you call me. I don’t give a rat’s arse about my image. Nothing anyone says bothers me.’’

That’s right. Call him a grub. A thug. A bully. Call him whatever you like.

“That’s fine with me,’’ Fifita said.

“When it comes to off-field stuff all I care about is my family. As NRL players we have big, heavy targets on our heads and that’s fine.’’

All tattoos, bad haircuts, and brawn, controversy has littered Fifita’s career. The 115kg wrecking balls has abused journalists, reneged on a contract and publicly supported a one-punch killer. He makes no apologies.

“I am who I am,’’ Fifita said.

“I am a role model to my kids and only my kids. My wife and my family know I am a great person and that is all that matters. I do a lot of good things but I don’t like to tell anyone because it is none of their business.

“I know I am a hero to my kids and a good dad and that is good enough for me. All I care about is my family.’’

Fifita does feel responsible to his teammates. Image: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The last claim is not entirely true.

This season the prop has showed he cares deeply for his club, his coach and his teammates.

Starting the season by voluntarily admitting himself to fat club in a bid to inspire the Sharks’ big men, Fifita has played injured for much of the year.

“My biggest fear is letting the boys down,’’ Fifita said. “That is why I have been pushing through.’’

Despite his personality off the field — or maybe because of it — Fifita has become a leader. It might seem unthinkable to call him a rugby league role model — but he is, without question, to his teammates.

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Standing in for Paul Gallen and Wade Graham when unavailable, the wild child has become Cronulla’s most unlikely captain.

“Flano (Shane Flanagan) threw me in the deep in last year and I knew taking the captaincy role last year was weird for myself but everyone backed me,’’ Fifita said.

“I am not the biggest talking on the field but I let the other chatty ones do that. I might be loud off the field but I am not really on the field. I am just there to lead by my actions. I just want to show rest the way.’’

And that he has.

The Cronulla enforcer leads by example, not through words. Image: Richard Dobson

With 778 run metres, Fifita has made the most ground of any Shark. He has also made the most offloads and is in the top three for total tackles.

A pauper when it comes to publicity, Fifita is every inch the professional when it comes to rugby league.

“It has always been about the extras and the one percenters for me,’’ Fifita said.

“Ever since I got to the Sharks I tried to be a professional athlete. When you make the big bucks you have to repay the club and the players. For me it is all about extras.’’

There is plenty to like about the player that is happy to be hated.