St George Illawarra keeping a close eye on Andrew Fifita

St George Illawarra are keeping a close eye on Andrew Fifita as they consider a potential reunion between the State of Origin star and his former Tonga coach Anthony Griffin.

Sharks prop Andrew Fifita has been forced to start the season in reserve grade. Picture: Getty Images

St George Illawarra are keeping a close eye on Andrew Fifita’s situation at Cronulla as they eye off a potential reunion between the former State of Origin star and his ex-Tongan coach Anthony Griffin.

Fifita has spent the opening two weeks of the season in the Canterbury Cup and it is understood he and Griffin spoke recently after the Dragons coach watched him playing for Newtown.

While it is believed the conversation was more around how Fifita was feeling, the Dragons are nonetheless watching proceedings closely as they remain on the lookout for players to strengthen their middle forward rotation.

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There would be some sizeable hurdles to overcome with Fifita, not least his salary for the remainder of this year and next. Yet sources confirmed to The Australian that the Dragons retained an interest in Fifita and nothing could be ruled out at this stage.

Fifita has struggled with knee problems in recent seasons but revealed earlier this season that he had dropped upwards of 20 kilograms in an attempt to show that he could acquit himself to the fresh rule changes in the game.

That didn’t stop coach John Morris wielding the axe before the season began, leaving Fifita to start the year in Canterbury Cup. He has another year remaining on a lucrative deal with the Sharks and the size of his contract makes a move to a rival club difficult unless Cronulla agree to supplement some of his wages.

The Dragons are one of the few clubs with money left under their salary cap for this season. They have also been one of the most active clubs in the player market, signing the likes of Jack Bird and Andrew McCullough from Brisbane.

Yet they remain on the lookout for forwards and Fifita is one of the players in the equation. The Dragons are coming off their first win of the season over North Queensland last weekend, a performance that heralded Corey Norman’s return to the NRL after serving a one-match NRL-imposed suspension over an off-field incident.

Norman refused to the critical of the NRL on Tuesday when asked about the decision.

“I forgot about it to be honest, I am back playing now,” he said.
“We have all dealt with it and it is what it is. I am glad to be back playing. I have nothing to say. It has been dealt with.

“It is in the past now. I am just happy to be back paying, looking forward to be playing Manly this week. It is what it is.”

Norman acknowledged he needed to get his season off to a fast start given he is off contract at the end of the year.

“It is probably the first time I have been off contract in my career,” he said.
“It is a different feeling. I know what I need to do and I know I need a good year. It doesn’t really play on my mind I have known about it for a while now.
“I don’t really worry about it now. I am old enough to know now that good footy will sort that stuff out. I am old enough to know what got son and how it goes.”