Official Andrew Fifita

Capital_Shark

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Apart from the dumb cheap shots, there's nothing with with it on the field... but it's like fighting a speeding ticket by saying 'it's a fast car, it should be driven that way'.

You think "its a contact sport and I like to throw my weight around" was the cornerstone of his defence, or a 12 word snippet from probably an hour long hearing for which we have no context?
 

bort

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You think "its a contact sport and I like to throw my weight around" was the cornerstone of his defence, or a 12 word snippet from probably an hour long hearing for which we have no context?

Can only hope it was his answer to every question
 

Sparkles

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You think "its a contact sport and I like to throw my weight around" was the cornerstone of his defence, or a 12 word snippet from probably an hour long hearing for which we have no context?

Feel free to read more about it and make for own mind up.
 

Capital_Shark

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Feel free to read more about it and make for own mind up.

You brought it up mate. I thought you might be able to inform us some more since you gave no source. I'm not researching the validity or context of random **** posted here or anywhere, happy to chat hypotheticals though.

Fifita apparently hired some pretty hefty legal counsel to fight this. Ultimately it failed but I'm without doubt that he was tutored as to how to respond to questions. Maybe given he had no carry over points the goal was a reduction on grading and them accepting he's a big ****er who throws himself into everything always and it was a totally accidental, unintentional and unfortunate mistiming that saw him land on the other bloke's head. A very different thing to what we know as a crusher which is a tackler wrapping up the ball carrier's torso and then applying his weight on top of the head/neck while they're on the ground. Fifita did no wrestle, didn't wrap the arms or torso. All he did was flop and drop himself onto a live ball carrier. The ball caarier unfortunately popped his head up at the wrong time.

Not anywhere near as intentional as an eye gouge, surely! How about just a fine? ... 3 ****en weeks?
 
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Yeah, apparently he used the same legal eagle that turned Slatters shoulder charge on Feki into Feki should charging Slatter or some Sh!!t like that, that got him off!

Strategy was trying to confuse the judiciary (which probably isn't that hard) into a favourable decision.
Didn't work this time which probably had more to do with the person being charged and convicted rather than the crime.
 

Sparkles

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You brought it up mate. I thought you might be able to inform us some more since you gave no source. I'm not researching the validity or context of random **** posted here or anywhere, happy to chat hypotheticals though.

Fifita apparently hired some pretty hefty legal counsel to fight this. Ultimately it failed but I'm without doubt that he was tutored as to how to respond to questions. Maybe given he had no carry over points the goal was a reduction on grading and them accepting he's a big ****er who throws himself into everything always and it was a totally accidental, unintentional and unfortunate mistiming that saw him land on the other bloke's head. A very different thing to what we know as a crusher which is a tackler wrapping up the ball carrier's torso and then applying his weight on top of the head/neck while they're on the ground. Fifita did no wrestle, didn't wrap the arms or torso. All he did was flop and drop himself onto a live ball carrier. The ball caarier unfortunately popped his head up at the wrong time.

Not anywhere near as intentional as an eye gouge, surely! How about just a fine? ... 3 ****en weeks?

No biggie. Just saw you'd taken a different direction and couldn't be arsed explaining it more.

The issue with Fifita's style is that he's putting in second efforts on grounded players. If they hurt someone it's due to his intent, not incidental. It's stupid and should be stopped. Fifita's good enough not to need that crap in his game, just needs his attitude adjusted.
 

slide rule

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On another issue, which is sort of related, I want anyone who falls to the ground in a voluntary tackle to be absolutely belted as hard as possible. (Legally)
 

common

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On another issue, which is sort of related, I want anyone who falls to the ground in a voluntary tackle to be absolutely belted as hard as possible. (Legally)

Well that is just the thing when a player voluntarily falls to the ground before anyone touches them. In my opinion the opposition player has every right to throw all their weight down on them, or stand there and not touch them and wait for them to stand up, then drive them back. If none of those two and the opposition player doesn't touch them, well no tackle has been completed and the bloke who threw himself on the ground should be penalised.
 

Mark^Bastard

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Well that is just the thing when a player voluntarily falls to the ground before anyone touches them. In my opinion the opposition player has every right to throw all their weight down on them, or stand there and not touch them and wait for them to stand up, then drive them back. If none of those two and the opposition player doesn't touch them, well no tackle has been completed and the bloke who threw himself on the ground should be penalised.

They need to just call it a damn penalty again. Then you can simply put your hand on them and earn a penalty. If the refs won't give the penalty, I agree the players should absolutely do whatever they can to destroy the ****.
 

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It's like players taking a knee after running behind their players. The defence should do nothing, don't go within a metre of him. The ref will have no option but to penalise.
 

SharkShocked

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It's like players taking a knee after running behind their players. The defence should do nothing, don't go within a metre of him. The ref will have no option but to penalise.

In logic this makes sense, but you know our referees are that ****ing against blowing a penalty for that it will never happen and you'll just get some random awkwardness moment until someone makes the first move.
 

bort

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On another issue, which is sort of related, I want anyone who falls to the ground in a voluntary tackle to be absolutely belted as hard as possible. (Legally)

I got penalised for this once before I’d ever seen it in the NRL. I was livid.

Wasn’t voluntary, he chased back and dove on a **** pass from a teammate and I followed with and nailed him just after he jumped on it but before he had a chance to try and get back up. Got penalised and had no idea why as I was sure I didn’t hit his head.

Was only much later I also saw it happen in the NRL and coach called it ‘penalised for tackling too hard’ in post match.
 

bort

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Hope he feels like a **** for getting himself suspended an extra week now

Not saying he would have made a difference tonight but the decision to fight the charge was selfish bull**** and I hope that loss made him feel like that.
 

Mark^Bastard

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Hope he feels like a **** for getting himself suspended an extra week now

Not saying he would have made a difference tonight but the decision to fight the charge was selfish bull**** and I hope that loss made him feel like that.
He was out tonight either way though?
 

bort

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He was out tonight either way though?

Yeah I realise (I wasn’t very clear) just mean he’d have hated watching that and hope he now realises it’s his own fault he has to watch next week instead of playing too
 

bort

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the tackle that crushed our season...

:eek:

Nah I just hope he feels like a dick for being selfish. Probably still thinks he was in the right though.
Our forwards should have been good enough to win that without him tonight and probably can against Broncs next week if we actually show up to play (could be a big ask...)
 

Gards

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didn't he fight the charge cause he was desperate to represent Tonga?

hard to bag him for that motivation, but to fight it when the evidence is clear and he has almost zero chance of being found not guilty or let off deserves some criticism. feel he was poorly advised to fight what was a blatant offense and with prior discretion

BUT.... he hasn't been anywhere near his best this season anyway but did start to long good and strong against raiders. we are a different team without him in the squad for sure either way. jack williams and priordidnt step up to the plate this week like we needed them to
 

bort

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didn't he fight the charge cause he was desperate to represent Tonga?

Yeah but he was never going to get off the charge, wanting to represent Tonga isn’t a defence. It was a **** move to fight it because it was 99.5% chance to be bad for Cronulla and 0.5% to be good for him
 

Super Impose

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Yeah but he was never going to get off the charge, wanting to represent Tonga isn’t a defence. It was a **** move to fight it because it was 99.5% chance to be bad for Cronulla and 0.5% to be good for him

I agree with you , he should be preparing to play next week now.
 
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