Cronulla Sharks prop Andrew Fifita ‘told to retire’ by coach John Morris this year

Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has sensationally claimed that former Sharks coach John Morris told him to hang up the boots this year.

Andrew Fifita and John Morris.

Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has taken a spectacular swipe at “disrespectful” former Sharks coach John Morris ahead of his NRL return this weekend.

Fifita is yet to feature in a first-grade match this season — the 31-year-old was not selected by Morris before copping a suspension for a crusher tackle in the NSW Cup last month.

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Morris was unceremoniously dumped as Sharks coach in April, with Cronulla announcing Craig Fitzgibbon as his replacement.

Interim coach Josh Hannay has named Fifita on the bench for Saturday’s match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane.

Speaking to AAP on Friday, the veteran forward sensationally claimed Morris told him to hang up the boots ahead of Round 1.

Andrew Fifita of the Sharks.

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“I got told to retire,” Fifita said.

“I’d done my pre-season and my work. It had been 10 weeks down and I felt like I was ready to go.

“I thought I went really well in (the NRL) All Stars and in my second trial for the club.

“And then I got told everything in Round 1, all the negatives from the whole pre-season.

“It’s what you get when you hear from the coach once in the whole time I have been there. Bit disrespectful (from him) on my end.

“In the sport we play it’s about being transparent. He should have come up to me during the whole pre-season and let me know my faults and where I could have improved.

“But to be shown right on Round 1, was pretty hard to work on those things. I don’t care what happens but I have a point to prove.

“I know the boys are excited to have me back and I can’t wait to get out there on Saturday.”

Fifita has played 185 NRL games for the Sharks since 2012. He represented the NSW Blues in 10 State of Origin fixtures and played seven Tests for Australia between 2013-17.