Andrew Fifita amends social media post accusing rivals of racism

Ex-NRL star Andrew Fifita has altered a controversial social media post where he accused two rival Central Coast clubs of racism.

Woy Woy Roosters take a knee against Dora Creek Swampies. Picture: Sue Graham

Former Australian forward Andrew Fifita has removed the names of clubs he accused of being racist in a revised online post.

Fifita has been issued a formal warning and ordered to delete or edit a controversial social post where he accused two rival Central Coast clubs of racism.

The NSWRL made the decision to reprimand Woy Woy forward Fifita on Wednesday in conjunction with Rugby League Central Coast board.

Rugby league on the Central Coast is quickly descending into an ugly and racial powder keg.

The decision to formally warn Fifita, the competition’s high-profile player, has indicated how serious NSWRL and RLCC are about trying to mend the deeply fractured competition.

Fifita, the ex-Sharks premiership-winning forward, angered Terrigal Sharks and Erina Eagles by claiming on Instagram that both clubs were “supporting racism” after forfeiting to Woy Woy.

As ordered, Fifita replaced the names ‘Terrigal’ and ‘Erina’ with “round 9 team and round 10 team.”

Toukley is expected on Thursday to make a decision on whether to play - or forfeit - Sunday’s home game against Woy Woy.

Fifita removed Toukley by saying: “Round 13 (team), let’s see what you will do next week.”

It was initially suggested Fifita had dragged down the entire post.

Terrigal and Erina refused to play Woy Woy over successive weekends amid concerns about the safety of their fans.

Rival clubs suggest Woy Woy fans have instigated off-field dramas yet, in retaliation, the Roosters insist their players and fans have been racially abused by rival supporters.

Woy Woy Rooster and former NRL star Andrew Fifita. Picture: Sue Graham

Fifita posted: “Stand up, speak out, and support us. No one should endure this. Terrigal Sharks and Erina Eagles, thank you for the points, but not for supporting racism.

“Some clubs refuse to play us because we refuse to be bystanders. Toukley Hawks, let’s see what you will do next week. Blak (sic), Loud & Proud.”

It is understood Terrigal and Erina are irate at the racism accusation and both clubs are considering expressing their disgust publicly.

This masthead checked Fifita’s Instagram account at 2.30pm on Wednesday and the post had been removed.

Woy Woy Roosters take a knee against Dora Creek Swampies. Picture: Sue Graham

Fifita will not face any further sanction.

On Tuesday, Rugby League Central Coast chairman Nathan Waugh claimed to be “disappointed and concerned” by Fifita’s post.

Toukley’s decision to either play or forfeit against Woy Woy will have a significant impact on the competition’s credibility.

Another forfeit would lower the usually strong and successful competition into a debacle. Rival clubs are curious whether Toukley will be pressured into playing Woy Woy.

Those same clubs suggest there have been four off-field incidents this season involving Woy Woy fans. Multiple clubs have united against playing Woy Woy. After back-to-back forfeits, Woy Woy played last weekend against Dora Creek Swampies.

Roosters players – whose indigenous contingent claim they’ve been racially vilified by rival supporters - took to one-knee last weekend before playing Dora Creek.

The Roosters-Swampies match at Woy Woy Oval attracted additional security and a strong police presence – measures that will continue for Woy Woy games throughout the season.

A massive crowd brawl at Woy Woy Oval in a match between the Roosters and Wyong on June 9 led to rival clubs forfeiting matches against the Roosters.

One angry supporter said the behaviour of Woy Woy fans forced “kids to hide in the canteen in fear at their local footy oval.”

In the post, Fifita also said: “At Woy Woy, we firmly oppose racism. We’re taking a stand by kneeling before our games going forward.”

CENTRAL COAST RL BOSS’S MESSAGE FOR FIFITA: OUR CLUBS AREN’T RACIST

The Rugby League Central Coast has angrily denied claims from former Test forward Andrew Fifita that three of the competition’s clubs — Terrigal Sharks, Toukley Hawks and Erina Eagles — are racist for boycotting games against Woy Woy.

Woy Woy Roosters prop Fifita enraged the three clubs by saying they were “supporting racism” – claims which led to immediate rebuke from RLCC chairman Nathan Waugh, who said he was “disappointed and concerned” by the accusations.

Terrigal and Erina say they refused to play Woy Woy over the past fortnight due to safety concerns for their fans with Toukley Hawks expected to forfeit their own home game against the Roosters this Sunday. A massive crowd brawl at Woy Woy Oval on June 9 led to rival clubs declining games against the Roosters.

After two forfeits, Woy Woy players — whose indigenous contingent claim to have been racially vilified by opposition fans — took to one knee last weekend in protest before a game against Dora Creek.

Andrew Fifita Coast Rugby League round 11 Woy Woy Roosters vs Dora Creek Swampies at Woy Woy Oval pic Sue Graham

The match at Woy Woy Oval attracted beefed-up security and a strong police presence – measures which will continue for future Roosters games.

Fifita posted on social media after the game: “At Woy Woy, we firmly oppose racism. We’re taking a stand by kneeling before our games going forward. Some clubs refuse to play us because we refuse to be bystanders.

“Stand up, speak out, and support us. No one should endure this. Terrigal Sharks and Erina Eagles, thank you for the points, but not for supporting racism. Toukley Hawks, let’s see what you will do next week. Blak (sic), Loud & Proud.”

Waugh was irritated by Fifita’s comments.

“I fully respect Andrew’s views on the matter but what has been disappointing is probably the naming of three of our clubs as supporters of racism,” Waugh said.

“I think they would deny this and the clubs would have some concerns in relation to (Fifita’s) comments. They’d certainly be disappointed being labelled that. There are some very good people in those clubs.

“In relation to the post, we would hope Andrew would have a look at that in respect to comments around the Terrigal, Erina and Toukley clubs.

“I have been in discussions with those clubs and people at those clubs certainly respect indigenous people and marginalised communities so to be branded supporters of racism was quite disappointing for them.

“Ultimately, their reasons for forfeiting were specifically in relation to their concerns around safety of spectators. Any club or person in general, if they don’t feel safe, they have the right to make their own decisions.

“The clubs’ concerns that were raised with us was around safety in relation to spectators, and we believe that has been addressed.”

Asked whether the three clubs were racist, Waugh said: “No, certainly not. The clubs are certainly entitled to their decisions in relation to forfeiting week-to-week.”

Rival clubs blame Woy Woy fans for off-field indiscretions while Roosters players fear the RLCC isn’t doing enough to quell sideline racism.

Clubs have colluded and voted against playing the Roosters with one revolted opposition fan saying the behaviour of Woy Woy fans forced “kids to hide in the canteen in fear at their local footy oval”.

Toukley officials were not commenting on Tuesday with the club yet to formally decide whether to play Woy Woy in a wet-weather catch-up game from round four at Darren Kennedy Oval this Sunday.

It is understood Waugh has spoken with Woy Woy about de-escalating the situation and “finding some common ground”.

Waugh was asked whether Woy Woy had a right to feel they were being racially targeted, as Fifita suggested.

“I will allow Woy Woy to make those comments,” he said. “Rugby League Central Coast can’t compel teams to play week in, week out but obviously we’d ask all teams and clubs to participate in the competition.

“Hopefully we can get this competition back to where it needs to be and we want to see these clubs and Woy Woy back playing football.”

The drama stems back to June 9 when Fifita was sent vile racist comments via social media. The former NSW prop claimed the same perpetrator was screaming racial comments from the sidelines during a match against Wyong at Woy Woy Oval.

An ugly brawl erupted behind the grandstand as tensions rose.

“The incident and what’s followed has been a distraction for those that play footy up here,” Waugh said.

The NSWRL will hold a code of conduct meeting this week. The horrid text messages labelled Fifita a “fat, old, lazy, weak, black, putrid a.. dog” and an “a.. c..t.”

Originally published as Andrew Fifita amends social media post accusing rivals of racism