Andrew Fifita retires: Veteran Cronulla Sharks prop hangs up boots after stellar career

Andrew Fifita’s try in the 2016 NRL grand final rates among the best in rugby league history — and the Sharks great given new insight into the match-defining moment. .

Andrew Fifita has called time on his career.

The confronting reality of being told he needs seven different operations has led champion Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita to announce his retirement from the NRL.

Viewed by many as the greatest Sharks prop of all-time, Fifita has made the emotional call to hang up his boots despite talking to Manly and Canterbury about a contract for 2023.

“I had spoken to (Manly’s) Dessie (Hasler) and (Canterbury’s) Cameron (Ciraldo) about helping them with some leadership in their pack next year,’’ Fifita said.

“I was keen to help Cam in his first year to help get the team gelling in year one.

“And the same with Manly, they’ve got a stack of strong youth coming through, but they need a senior figure.

“What killed me was the medicals. 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.”

Andrew Fifita has called time on his career.

THE TOLL

In August, Fifita declared publicly the 2022 season would be his last at his beloved Cronulla.

Featuring in 22 games, the Sharks spiritual leader appeared in the most number of games since 2018, when he was named Dally M prop of the year.

It gave the 33-year-old confidence he could play-on. That was, until a recent meeting with Sharks club doctor George Pitsis.

“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 says he retires with noting to prove, having played for the Kangaroos, Tonga, NSW and winning an NRL premiership. Picture: Gregg Porteous

RINGS, MEDALS AND JERSEYS

Fifita was named in the 14 jersey in Cronulla’s 50-year anniversary team in 2017 with fellow club legends Cliff Watson and Dane Sorensen claiming the starting front-row spots.

Fifita’s medal acknowledging his selection within the best-ever Sharks team played a role in his decision to retire.

“I know that another cub would treat me with respect, but the person who opened my eyes was (twin brother) David,” Fifita said.

“He said, “What have you got to prove?

“He grabbed me and said, go into your study and have a look at the walls.

“What else do you want? You’ve got everything you’ve ever achieved in that room right there.

“My three international jerseys, my Origin jersey and all my Cronulla medals and awards are on the walls.

“I’ve done enough in the game.’’

Fifita’s career almost ended prematurely and he was placed in an induced coma after suffering a fractured larynx in 2021. Picture: AAP.

BREATHLESS

What was largely forgotten over the past season was Fifita’s fortitude to not only recover, but perform in the NRL after suffering a fractured larynx and being placed in a coma in August last year.

Few knew that the traumatic experience has had everlasting changes to the way Fifita breathes, to the point his breathing is limited at any point he lifts his head and eyes toward the sky.

Fifita revealed that he was restricted in the way he could fight to his feet after being tackled this year.

The injury has had lasting effects on the retiring star, who still has problems breathing and drinking.

“As a result of the surgery, I can’t really breathe when I look up,’’ Fifita said,

“So whenever I landed on my elbows and knees with the footy, I always had to keep my head down.

“That made it tricky to see what the ref was signalling, so when I tried to look up at the ref, I had to keep my head down but slightly tilted to see him.

“It stopped me from fighting with my head in the tackle.
“The other thing is, I can‘t skol anymore. I have to double-gulp to swallow a drink.’’

THAT TRY

The seventh most-capped Shark with 251 games, Fifita is forever etched into the history books and the hearts and minds of Cronulla fans as a club legend following his heroic 2016 grand final try, which has had over 155,000 views on YouTube.

His effort to hit, spin and power past five Storm defenders to plant the football over the tryline remains extraordinary viewing, to the point many believe he should’ve been awarded the Clive Churchill Medal.

However, for the first time, Fifita has given a new insight into what drove him to score the match-defining try.

Fifita scored a crucial try in the 2016 Grand Final against Melbourne, and many thought he should have won the Clive Churchill medal. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“It’s my favourite moment because (former Sharks teammate) Bryce Gibbs would always say to me, ‘how many tries have you scored in a grand final?’,’’ Fifita said.

“It used to do my head in and I would always think, if I can ever score a try in a grand final, I will shut Gibbsy up.

“And his one (in 2005) was just diving on the ball.

“Mine was a bit different.

“The other thing not many people know is, leading up to that try, I ran to the left towards Cooper Cronk and I made good metres, but I swear they had a game plan to cork my legs.

“I reckon I had about five corks and it just kept happening.

“Someone just kept kneeing me in the legs and I could barely walk for the last 15 minutes.”

Fifita says scoring the try was the favourite moment from his career. Picture: Getty Images.

GEN-NEXT

Fifita’s polarising and at-times controversial footy career is over.

But he remains determined to use his own worldly experiences to mentor and teach teenagers, in or out of the NRL, about handling adversity and pressure.

“I want to do a mentoring program that teaches teens about overcoming obstacles,” Fifita, who has a diploma of counselling, said.

“How to beat anger, how to turn a negative into positives and changing your mindset.

“I really want to work in high schools as a wellbeing officer.

“I believe the sports schools could be more aware of the pressures involved with being a professional athlete.

“I’d love to be with the Sharks for life.

“I will say, the game, not just the Sharks, needs to have one full-time cultural officer at every club.

“There’s a lot of young islanders in the lower grades that have come over from New Zealand and they’re thrust into an environment that isn’t like home.

“Every dressing room wants to be on the same page. But to do that, understanding the different cultures within that dressing room is paramount.”