‘I’ve fulfilled everything’: Grand final hero explains why he had to retire even though he had more to give

Andrew Fifita knows he could have played on for one more season, but in the end there was one major hurdle that forced him to retire.

Andrew Fifita will go down as one of Cronulla’s best-ever forwards. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

He scored the most famous try in Sharks history but Andrew Fifita’s time in the NRL is over, with the veteran prop officially retiring after 13 seasons in the game.

The 33-year-old had been hoping to link up with another club for 2023 but told The Daily Telegraph that playing on became too difficult once he found out that he needed seven different operations to come back next year.

Fifita revealed that he’d spoken with the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs about providing them with much-needed experience up front, especially a Canterbury side that needs leadership under rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo.

Andrew Fifita will always be a fan favourite in the Shire for this try in the 2016 grand final. Picture; Phil Hillyard

“What killed me was the medicals,” Fifita told The Daily Telegraph.

“When you’re leaving a club you have an exit medical which analyses your body. The doc sat me down and ran me through it all.’’

That was a difficult conversation with Sharks doctor George Pitsis, with scans revealing that Fifita needed several procedures done if he wanted to play on for one more season.

Fifita had some huge games for NSW. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“The MRI scans showed that I could keep playing, but I would need to push through a fair few things that my body needs work on,’’ Fifita said.

“I need osteotomy surgery on my left knee, that’s when they actually cut the bone and add tissue to realign your bones.

“I need my left ankle surgically straightened, I need a right shoulder reconstruction, my nose bone is collapsing, so I need a nose reconstruction.

“I need my middle finger fused, a right elbow arthroscopy and I’ve lost all my back teeth, so I need dental surgery and teeth implants.’’

Fifita retires as a premiership winner having scored the decisive try in the 2016 grand final, while he also represented the Blues 10 times and played Test football for Australia and Tonga.

“I have made the hard decision to announce my retirement from the NRL,” said Fifita, who became just the 10th man in history to play 200 first-grade games for Cronulla.

“I am extremely grateful for all the milestones and memories I have made at the Sharks.

“I can retire knowing I’ve fulfilled everything I had dreamed of achieving.”