Official Andrew Fifita

[Sparkles]

Using stats in actual NRL games to measure a player’s performance is a pretty soft argument at the best of times. Using them for an All Stars game is just craziness. FFS it’s a fund-raiser game with unlimited interchange featuring 30 blokes whose training is customised to peak several months from now, and another ten who have barely played in the NRL in the last 12 months - or at all.

It is what it is. Great concept. Fun for the fans, players and their families - but the on field performance of any player in that game means absolutely zero in terms of how he is going to go this year at NRL level.

Fifita played 9 minutes, rest, 12 minutes, rest, 9 minutes, rest, 3 minutes, rest, 8 minutes, rest, 11 minutes, off

That’s 11 interchanges for one player. An NRL team gets 8. Getting through the game healthy and without a suspension is great. Anything else means f*ck all.

Yeah, it's a Pro Bowl. A bit of fun, a great cultural spotlight and a chance for some players to blow out some cobwebs

 

[Sir Chadley]

Using stats in actual NRL games to measure a player’s performance is a pretty soft argument at the best of times. Using them for an All Stars game is just craziness. FFS it’s a fund-raiser game with unlimited interchange featuring 30 blokes whose training is customised to peak several months from now, and another ten who have barely played in the NRL in the last 12 months - or at all.

It is what it is. Great concept. Fun for the fans, players and their families - but the on field performance of any player in that game means absolutely zero in terms of how he is going to go this year at NRL level.

Fifita played 9 minutes, rest, 12 minutes, rest, 9 minutes, rest, 3 minutes, rest, 8 minutes, rest, 11 minutes, off

That’s 11 interchanges for one player. An NRL team gets 8. Getting through the game healthy and without a suspension is great. Anything else means f*ck all.

Sanity has prevailed. Wizard, take note.

Agree it was great to see Fifs out there but he wasn't the best Sharks player. Hynes was the best for mine, although the others were all pretty strong in that format. Just cannot wait for the season to start.

 

[Sparkles]

If the rules are change to get unlimited interchanges and compulsory dead tracks his chances at a spot in the 17 will look a lot better

 

[Tatus]

If the rules are change to get unlimited interchanges and compulsory dead tracks his chances at a spot in the 17 will look a lot better

Bring him on when there is a bit of momentum for tackle 3 and take him off after his run

 

[vicsharkfan]

Should try him over the hurdles

 

[HaroldBishop]

Bring him on when there is a bit of momentum for tackle 3 and take him off after his run

Ha Manly used to do this with Cliffy towards the end of his career when it was unlimited interchange....bring him on for attack, take him off in defence.

 

[Gards]

Andrew went better than I expected him to but as mentioned it was unlimited interchange and he was given sideline spells at will

Had a couple good carries and was busy in defense. yea he missed tackles but so did most of his team. I dont think he has the agility to crab effectively much more. maybe focus on just running straight and hard with the odd offload?

Great having passion and all but he got himself sent for 10 instead of it just being Rapana . they could have had a 1 man advantage but it was cancelled out, I think his team would have preferred the advantage than the sticking up for mates thing but yea heat of the moment ect...

Still think for a senior forward at this stage of his career needs to show more discipline and restraint especially if his abilities on the field are diminishing. I fear that if and when his body/form starts going backwards again he will over compensate with brain snaps and hot headiness.

We need a mature Andrew Fifita now that adapts his game and play style to suit his limitations.

A forward like Dale while a different temperament to Fifs wouldn't get himself sent to the bin cause he knew he had a coach that would rip him to shreds over it. I hope Fitz holds Andrew to account. Calm heads prevail and all that...

 

[CrazyMatt]

Im happy he went ok in the All Stars game. I still dont see a spot for him in our 17 though.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

Andrew went better than I expected him to but as mentioned it was unlimited interchange and he was given sideline spells at will

Had a couple good carries and was busy in defense. yea he missed tackles but so did most of his team. I dont think he has the agility to crab effectively much more. maybe focus on just running straight and hard with the odd offload?

Great having passion and all but he got himself sent for 10 instead of it just being Rapana . they could have had a 1 man advantage but it was cancelled out, I think his team would have preferred the advantage than the sticking up for mates thing but yea heat of the moment ect...

Still think for a senior forward at this stage of his career needs to show more discipline and restraint especially if his abilities on the field are diminishing. I fear that if and when his body/form starts going backwards again he will over compensate with brain snaps and hot headiness.

We need a mature Andrew Fifita now that adapts his game and play style to suit his limitations.

A forward like Dale while a different temperament to Fifs wouldn't get himself sent to the bin cause he knew he had a coach that would rip him to shreds over it. I hope Fitz holds Andrew to account. Calm heads prevail and all that...

Totally agree. We need to be smart.

 

[bort]

Andrew went better than I expected him to but as mentioned it was unlimited interchange and he was given sideline spells at will

Had a couple good carries and was busy in defense. yea he missed tackles but so did most of his team. I dont think he has the agility to crab effectively much more. maybe focus on just running straight and hard with the odd offload?

Great having passion and all but he got himself sent for 10 instead of it just being Rapana . they could have had a 1 man advantage but it was cancelled out, I think his team would have preferred the advantage than the sticking up for mates thing but yea heat of the moment ect...

Still think for a senior forward at this stage of his career needs to show more discipline and restraint especially if his abilities on the field are diminishing. I fear that if and when his body/form starts going backwards again he will over compensate with brain snaps and hot headiness.

We need a mature Andrew Fifita now that adapts his game and play style to suit his limitations.

A forward like Dale while a different temperament to Fifs wouldn't get himself sent to the bin cause he knew he had a coach that would rip him to shreds over it. I hope Fitz holds Andrew to account. Calm heads prevail and all that...

He wasn't even the instigator of the scrap, Curran grabbed Rapana first, Andrew was walked on reputation.
But he should know that is likely by this stage in his career. I don't mind him getting involved as he did though, especially given hit was on a Shark.

When crabbing he still has the powerful palm but has lost the explosive powerful drive to follow it. So he can crab and keep people off him a bit but can't follow it up by bursting through the resulting gap. But I think because he also lacks the leg drive to push through the line in a straight run he feels like he has a better chance of having a Fifita like run by crabbing and palming.

His defense was particularly concerning in All Stars as that is an area where he had stayed fairly solid since the knee. Last season averaged 93.6%
This game he was only 79% 23 made, 3 miss, 3 ineffective. Needed to finish off those ineffectives to get to 26-3/89%
Would have to watch again and watch more closely to really judge though. I hope he didn't shy from any contacts.
His defence is mostly middles with a lot of being 2nd or 3rd man in too, and he doesn't give up size, so a drop off in defence is a big worry.
Most big props aren't the greatest lateral movers, especially when facing someone smaller and faster with some footwork so they will always get a touch of leniency from me in that area, as long as they at least look like they tried.

Overall with the help of a lot of rests he did play decent in the fixture.
Think he will be okay on the depth chart again but I can't see him earning a place in the first choice 17.
If he earned it though, I'd be pleased to see him.

Was he the second highest paid player on the park at the All Stars game (behind DFif)?

 

[Gards]

When crabbing he still has the powerful palm but has lost the explosive powerful drive to follow it. So he can crab and keep people off him a bit but can't follow it up by bursting through the resulting gap. But I think because he also lacks the leg drive to push through the line in a straight run he feels like he has a better chance of having a Fifita like run by crabbing and palming.

I tend to observe the same things about him. Defenders also figured out along time ago to go low on him and take away his legs and he just flops to the ground and its easier to make those tackles as well cause he is getting around slower with less drive and power these days.

I thought his effort to get around the park in defense was pretty good all things considered. He gets found out a bit close to the line though misreading things or falling off a tackle. I don't recall any outright lazy things from him but it doesn't mean it didn't happen, just I didn't notice it and I haven't watched any replays.

As for the dust up, how ever much role fifs had in it not he's still a hot head, you hear the way he speaks to refs ect and his emotions get the better of him. His passion isn't gunna help that much when his body can't keep up and take advantage of that extra energy or aggression, I think it usually does us more harm than good.

Still love the big fella and I know its unlikely he gunna change

 

[Thresher]

Should try him over the hurdles

I guess harness racing is out of the question with the throat injury.

 

[Gards]

I guess harness racing is out of the question with the throat injury.

Are you suggesting he would be the one pulling the little man in the cart around a dirt circle?

 

[bort]

I thought his effort to get around the park in defense was pretty good all things considered. He gets found out a bit close to the line though misreading things or falling off a tackle. I don't recall any outright lazy things from him but it doesn't mean it didn't happen, just I didn't notice it and I haven't watched any replays.

More off the ball I noticed laziness (/energy conservation). Jogging back to be onside for next tackle or falling out of shape even though current play is still live, but has gone past him. Easy to abuse if he is a regular in our side.

 

[bort]

Video (including just the still frame) and quote "
The shot didn’t sit well with Indigenous forward Josh Curran who only had eyes for Rapana and within seconds almost every player on the field was involved in a melee that spilt over the sideline and almost over the fence into the crowd."
support that Andrew was not the instigator of the scuffle.
Still, could have kept his cool more and not risked being binned.

‘That’s dangerous’: Two binned in all-in melee as a Raiders star faces time on the sidelines

‘That’s dangerous’: Two binned in all-in melee as a Raiders star faces time on the sidelines

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Sparkles]

Andrew went better than I expected him to but as mentioned it was unlimited interchange and he was given sideline spells at will

Had a couple good carries and was busy in defense. yea he missed tackles but so did most of his team. I dont think he has the agility to crab effectively much more. maybe focus on just running straight and hard with the odd offload?

Great having passion and all but he got himself sent for 10 instead of it just being Rapana . they could have had a 1 man advantage but it was cancelled out, I think his team would have preferred the advantage than the sticking up for mates thing but yea heat of the moment ect...

Still think for a senior forward at this stage of his career needs to show more discipline and restraint especially if his abilities on the field are diminishing. I fear that if and when his body/form starts going backwards again he will over compensate with brain snaps and hot headiness.

We need a mature Andrew Fifita now that adapts his game and play style to suit his limitations.

A forward like Dale while a different temperament to Fifs wouldn't get himself sent to the bin cause he knew he had a coach that would rip him to shreds over it. I hope Fitz holds Andrew to account. Calm heads prevail and all that...

You getting a portfolio together to audition for a gig at Zero Tackle, Gards?

 

[Thresher]

Are you suggesting he would be the one pulling the little man in the cart around a dirt circle?

Not with a throat like that.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Andrew went better than I expected him to but as mentioned it was unlimited interchange and he was given sideline spells at will

Had a couple good carries and was busy in defense. yea he missed tackles but so did most of his team. I dont think he has the agility to crab effectively much more. maybe focus on just running straight and hard with the odd offload?

Great having passion and all but he got himself sent for 10 instead of it just being Rapana . they could have had a 1 man advantage but it was cancelled out, I think his team would have preferred the advantage than the sticking up for mates thing but yea heat of the moment ect...

Still think for a senior forward at this stage of his career needs to show more discipline and restraint especially if his abilities on the field are diminishing. I fear that if and when his body/form starts going backwards again he will over compensate with brain snaps and hot headiness.

We need a mature Andrew Fifita now that adapts his game and play style to suit his limitations.

A forward like Dale while a different temperament to Fifs wouldn't get himself sent to the bin cause he knew he had a coach that would rip him to shreds over it. I hope Fitz holds Andrew to account. Calm heads prevail and all that...

100% AF got marched on reputation but I’m not entirely convinced Rapana would have gone if there was no reaction after the shoulder charge on Ramien.
If everyone got up and got on with playing, I reckon the ref would have settled with the penalty.
Just my opinion.

 

[bort]

100% AF got marched on reputation but I’m not entirely convinced Rapana would have gone if there was no reaction after the shoulder charge on Ramien.
If everyone got up and got on with playing, I reckon the ref would have settled with the penalty.
Just my opinion.

At the time the ref judged it to be a shoulder charge, his second in like 10 minutes. I'd say that warrants a sit down to think about what he is doing.

Some debate whether it was a shoulder or not. Leading arm (shoulder) was tucked, other arm was out. Tricky one.
I still don't think this was a shoulder charge, both arms out in a position to wrap (if the guy hadn't been decimate). If one arm out that never wraps isn't a charge (one arm tucked) how is two arms out a shoulder charge?
Inconsistent

Talakai sent to sin bin for shoulder charge | Bulldogs

Siosifa Talakai is placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge on Matt Doorey

www.bulldogs.com.au

 

[Western Sharkie]

I guess they are relying on the point of contact of the defending player regardless of arms in, arms out or one in one out.
Very grey area