Cronulla Grand Final hero to leave Sharks, Manly farewell four players

Cronulla’s Andrew Fifita will play his last home game for the club on Saturday, and a move to a struggling team could be on the cards.

Martin Taupau will leave the Sea eagles at the end of the year.

The Sharks have confirmed grand final hero Andrew Fifita will play his last home game for the club on Saturday.

Fifita has missed just three games this season, coming off the bench 17 times and starting in a win over the Storm in Round 17.

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The 33-year-old will play his final game at Pointsbet Stadium against the Bulldogs on Saturday and leave the club at the end of Cronulla’s finals campaign.

Fifita told reporters on Tuesday he’s open to extending his career at another NRL club and said he’d talk to the Wests Tigers if they’re interested.

Fifita has scored 40 tires but none more famous than the match winner in the 2016 NRL grand final when the Sharks clinched their first and only premiership.

The star prop has enjoyed a strong 2022 after he was placed in a coma at the end of last season.

Fifita underwent surgery for a fractured larynx - a throat injury he sustained in a game - and was placed in a five-day coma to help him breathe.

Andrew Fifita of the Sharks will leave the club, Getty Images

The star prop debuted at the Wests Tigers in 2010 and has played 246 NRL matches, 10 games for New South Wales and represented both Australia and Tonga.

Fifita made seven appearances for the Kangaroos between 2013 and 2017 and lined up for Tonga 10 times between 2010 and 2019.

Cronulla are third on the ladder and can lock up a top-four spot with a win over Canterbury, with the match already sold out.

TIGER HOMECOMING: Andrew Fifita to finish at @cronullasharks - open to return to @WestsTigers if they are genuinely interested. Not worst shout

— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) August 23, 2022

SEA EAGLES FLY THE COOP

The Manly Sea Eagles confirmed the departure of four players with laps of honour after their Round 23 defeat by the Sharks.

Kieran Foran will head to the Titans in 2023, Dylan Walker moves to the Warriors, while Marty Taupau and Andrew Davey are without clubs for next season.

27-year-old Walker has scored 65 tries in 183 NRL games since his debut for Souths in 2013 and has played the last seven years at Manly.

“I’ll never forget this place,” Walker said on Seaeagles.com.au.

“It is a very special place. I have been doing rugby league for a while now and to do it seven years here I am super grateful.”

32-year-old Taupau has scored 19 tries in 219 games for the Bulldogs, Tigers and Sea Eagles since his debut in 2010.

“Absolutely grateful for the fans,” Taupau said.

“We have got great fans here and I am forever grateful for them welcoming me for seven years.”

Foran, 32, has scored 51 tries in 259 games for the Sea Eagles, Eels, Warriors and Bulldogs since his debut in 2009 and won a premiership with the club in 2011.

“I have loved all my time over the years here,” Foran said.

“The fans have been brilliant and I am just going to soak it up now.”

Martin Taupau will leave the Sea eagles at the end of the year.

Originally published as Cronulla Grand Final hero to leave Sharks, Manly farewell four players