Official Andrew Fifita

HaroldBishop

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Fifs can still contribute 15-20 mins or so (unless his body gets worse over the off/pre season) and the way our final bench spot often gets underplayed minutes wise anyway it's prob all we need from him

Picking him in the first place over Tolman or a utlity or whatever is a different conversation

BUT while he has struggled with his fitness in recent years and isn't the same player he used to be I am not of the opinion he is useless or that he hasn't had some decent moments on the field in recent seasons even while battling his body every step of the way

Could be a bit of a liability in defense but then so was Woods and he didn't have big fitness concerns to content with really
I don't think he can but I hope I'm wrong.
 

Thresher

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Way too slow laterally in defence over the last couple of years.

New trainer, a couple of hours every day in Fitz's wrestle-pit, I'm not thinking that it's impossible for him to get back up to standard.

It would be a pleasant surprise though.
 

bort

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Fifs can still contribute 15-20 mins or so (unless his body gets worse over the off/pre season) and the way our final bench spot often gets underplayed minutes wise anyway it's prob all we need from him

Picking him in the first place over Tolman or a utlity or whatever is a different conversation

BUT while he has struggled with his fitness in recent years and isn't the same player he used to be I am not of the opinion he is useless or that he hasn't had some decent moments on the field in recent seasons even while battling his body every step of the way

Could be a bit of a liability in defense but then so was Woods and he didn't have big fitness concerns to content with really
He did only get those runs ahead of basically just Billy Mags though, was used through desperation.
As far as forward #12 of 13 on the roster goes he contributed well last season.

With him playing we beat Origin depleted Penrith by 1 and beat the spooners. We lost to Rabbitohs by 10, Manly by 18, Warriors by 2 and Newcastle by 2 so pretty sure Hannay would have loved to have someone else available for all these games.
Against Rabbitohs no BHU no Talakai no Hunt selected ahead of Pele
Against Manly no Talakai no Graham no Pele
Against Warriors no Hunt no Graham no Pele
Against Newcastle no Graham no Wilton no Pele (Talakai in centres) and Billy Mags got a run

Assuming Finucane takes all Woods minutes and McInnes joins the side and pushes pretty much everyone down a spot in the middle depth things are probably looking better for our side if we never see Fifita as it means those above him are staying healthy.
Unless he gets himself into better shape and able to contribute better for next season.

Think his defence was still decent. Lateral is an issue but shouldn't factor in massively in a short stint.
 

Sparkles

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Fifs can still contribute 15-20 mins or so (unless his body gets worse over the off/pre season) and the way our final bench spot often gets underplayed minutes wise anyway it's prob all we need from him

Picking him in the first place over Tolman or a utlity or whatever is a different conversation

BUT while he has struggled with his fitness in recent years and isn't the same player he used to be I am not of the opinion he is useless or that he hasn't had some decent moments on the field in recent seasons even while battling his body every step of the way

Could be a bit of a liability in defense but then so was Woods and he didn't have big fitness concerns to content with really
Completely agree mate. All but that part about being able to contribute for 15-20 mins.

The choice seems to be 'play him because we like him' or 'put him out of his misery and retire him'
 

Paul C

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We have to pay him but we don't have to play him.

That's the way it will be.

Just glad we don't have to deal with Arey after a year when he goes down the shitter.
 
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Someone I know said they seen him training the other day out on the ovals behind Cronulla High, said he was looking very slow, as to what context his training was I have NFI, I suppose, as a positive, good to see he’s training before PS starts.
 

egg

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Had another kid. Named him Nulla
Can just picture it .
Up the park kicking a footy with his youngest in a few years time
Next minute aaaaaark , aaaaaaark , aaaaaaaak
The LEGEND Points
You know that's a Crow Nulla ?

:)
PS : and by the way a GREAT name .
 
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Has the big fella been training? Curious where he is at after the throat injury.
 

bort

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How many games do we reckon this guy will play for us this year?
If the best he can still give is what he gave us last year then hopefully none.

Middle forward depth chart last year looked (roughly) like
1 Woods
2 Rudolf
3 BHU
4 Tolman
5 Williams
6 Talakai
7 Hunt
8 Fifita
9 Wilton
10 Pele
11 Milne

So this year before season starts probably something like
1 McInnes
2 Finucane
3 Rudolf
4 BHU
5 Tolman
6 Williams
7 Talakai
8 Hunt
9 Wilton
10 Fifita
11 Pele

The personal preference and where exactly we'd all individually rank people can obviously alter this list, I tried to base off who was being picked to play, how often, and over who else that was available. The likes of Williams, Talakai, and Hunt probably all a chance to jump Tolman for this season, besides that I don't think there'd be much shifting more than one place from my guess.
Fifita was probably at most our 7th choice middle last year (using probably 5-6 in a 17) and looking more like 10th for coming season. Fingers crossed he comes back more like the old Fifita though, as even halfway between his best and where he is now probably moves him up to more like #3
 
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