Official Andrew Fifita

[Gil]

Has he officially signed yet? Thought there was suppose to be a official announcement today

Still waiting to see the big announcement that was supposed to be announced last night.

 

[Gumby]

You couldn't watch Bukuya last year because he was leaving?

****ing hell gents this happens every year to every club.

He didn't sign just after round 1 though did he. It seems to happen to us more than any other club. Snowden, Douglas, Fifita, Bukuya, liicha, Peachey. We spend all this time developing players for other clubs to just take. ****ing bull****!

 

[sharks2010]

By BRAD WALTER AND DANIEL LANE
Test prop Andrew Fifita broke down and cried after Monday night's loss to Gold Coast as he told Cronulla teammates the reasons he had accepted a four-year $3.4 million deal with Canterbury.

Fifita, who was booked for a grade two shoulder charge on Titans winger David Mead, has vowed to fight a three-match ban at Wednesday night's judiciary hearing so he can play against his new club next Monday night.

Fifita is believed to be close to finalising the deal, although there was a suggestion on Tuesday he had offered Cronulla one last shot at retaining him.

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However, the 24-year-old was told the Sharks were not able to make an increase on the $700,000 offer they had already tabled and the Bulldogs are believed to have landed him for $850,000 a season for four years after coming in over the top of South Sydney with the lucrative deal last weekend.

An emotional Fifita told teammates he had no choice but to accept the offer as he confirmed his departure to them after Monday night's match at Remondis Stadium.

"I shed some tears and like I told them I didn't want to leave but I am looking forward to the future," Fifita told Channel Seven.

"I wasn't the smartest kid in school and if it can help me get a start in life and get a roof over my family's head I am more than happy to help them out."

After failing to establish himself as a regular NRL starting prop last season, the Australian and NSW Origin representative also said the career-ending injury suffered by former Wests Tigers teammate Simon Dwyer had made him realise players had to make the most of their opportunities in the game.

However, Fifita vowed to do his best to help deliver Cronulla an historic premiership before he leaves to join a Bulldogs club which is also understood to have secured the services of boom Sharks hooker Michael Lichaa and is on the verge of announcing the re-signing of English Test prop James Graham and Kangaroos centre Josh Morris.

"If Sharks fans have trust in me I am going to go out with a bang," Fifita said: "They haven't won a premiership and I just want youse out there to follow me and I will give you 100 per cent."

Despite Fifita's signing being expected to signal a clean-out at Canterbury before next season, he is not afraid of a hostile welcome next Monday night and the Sharks named him in their line-up on Tuesday.

"I realy think I am going to fight this because I don't see it as a shoulder charge," Fifita said.

Asked about playing against Canterbury, Fifita said: "Whoever comes at me I am going to hit them and if I get the ball I am going to charge at them. In 2014 I am a Sharks man."

Meanwhile, Canterbury are on the verge of announcing Graham and Morris have re-signed.

Graham's manager David Riolo would not comment on the player's future when contacted on Tuesday night, but Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle said the club would go all out to re-sign him, Morris and co-captain Michael Ennis. However, it's understood negotiations with Ennis had stalled since the Bulldogs signed Lichaa.

While the Bulldogs welcomed Fifita's decision as a "triumph", Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis refuted the claim his club had offered Fifita a deal - let alone the one worth $900,000 a season.

"Whoever said that is a liar," Politis told Fairfax Media on Tuesday night. "There was no offer made to him by us at any time. We showed some interest but when we became aware of the amount of money that was being thrown around we did not even make an offer.

"Good luck to Andrew Fifita, he's a good player and whoever gets him, I say, good luck to them."

Source: http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/le...anterbury-bulldogs-switch-20140311-hvhg7.html

 

[Gil]

He didn't sign just after round 1 though did he. It seems to happen to us more than any other club. Snowden, Douglas, Fifita, Bukuya, liicha, Peachey. We spend all this time developing players for other clubs to just take. ****ing bull****!

:good:

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Is it too late for Keogh to offer him lifetime free popcorn?

Lets all go to the lobby

 

[sharks2010]

Still waiting to see the big announcement that was supposed to be announced last night.

lol I still don't know wtf that was all about

But your info about the sponsor was wrong

 

[sharkyboy]

He didn't sign just after round 1 though did he. It seems to happen to us more than any other club. Snowden, Douglas, Fifita, Bukuya, liicha, Peachey. We spend all this time developing players for other clubs to just take. ****ing bull****!

Why does it matter when they signed?

The loss of talent falls to the same retards we blame over and over.

 

[Gil]

Lets all go to the lobby

They sold that off, it's now a laundromat

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

They sold that off, it's now a laundromat

A brick yard

 

[Gil]

lol I still don't know wtf that was all about

But your info about the sponsor was wrong

hahaha, yeah I had a **** night.

Sponsor announcement :No:
Fifita announcement :No:
Sharks win :No:

I think I'll just be quiet now.

 

[Born&bred]

The third party rules are a joke - do we have a salary cap or not?

If the cap doesn't change the rich & poor situation (which VERY obviously isn't the case - cheque book teams with no junior league still rule) - then **** it off and bring in a draft.

Can you get badminton on foxtel?

Jesus, I might have to consider watching soccer.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Why does it matter when they signed?

The loss of talent falls to the same retards we blame over and over.

U cant keep everyone. U cant always change people mind either. Penrith is going through a complete rebuild. If peachey was 2 years older he'd still be here. If Lichaa didnt get injured last year he would have been played by now. His injury set back that development but he still believes he is number 1 obviously. 1st grade is a world above nsw cup or holden cup.
Mills peachey gardner all did well in nsw cup but arent star first graders when they play

 

[slide rule]

Source: http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/le...anterbury-bulldogs-switch-20140311-hvhg7.html

And they are resigning graham and morris. And maybe Ennis. Jesus!

 

[CrankyShark]

The third party rules are a joke - do we have a salary cap or not?

If the cap doesn't change the rich & poor situation (which VERY obviously isn't the case - cheque book teams with no junior league still rule) - then **** it off and bring in a draft.

Can you get badminton on foxtel?

Jesus, I might have to consider watching soccer.

It seems to me that the whole point of the third party payments system is to distort the cap in favour of the rich clubs who are connected.

I think the draft was deemed illegal courtesy of Terry Hill when he was at Souths.

 

[Born&bred]

It seems to me that the whole point of the third party payments system is to distort the cap in favour of the rich clubs who are connected.

I think the draft was deemed illegal courtesy of Terry Hill when he was at Souths.

Yep I remember that - but how is it not illegal in other sports?

 

[Born&bred]

It seems to me that the whole point of the third party payments system is to distort the cap in favour of the rich clubs who are connected.

I think the draft was deemed illegal courtesy of Terry Hill when he was at Souths.

And yes

 

[Josh]

I'm sorry, but I can't look at a player seriously when they say the money was too good to refuse and its only 150k difference.

blah blah blah yeah only got a 10 year career maybe. Spend 700k wisely and the returns will mean the added 150k meant nothing in the end.

 

[DeathMoth]

****ty management by the Sharks, particularly if Lichaa goes with him. Can't retain the most damaging runner in the league, can't retain one of the most highly regarded up and comers. Quick, sign some over the hill hack to make up for it.

 

[CrankyShark]

Yep I remember that - but how is it not illegal in other sports?

Nobody in the AFL has the stones to do what Hill did, is the reason the AFL get away with it. Players don't step out of line in the AFL like that for some reason.

 

[shire1976]

Still waiting to see the big announcement that was supposed to be announced last night.

He announced it on 7 News tonight. Said he told the team after the game and shed a few tears. Says he wasn't the smartest kid at school so needs to use this to look after his family. Says he wants to go out by winning a comp for the Sharks.