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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/andrew-fifita-declares-he-has-no-issues-with-former-wests-tigers-coach-tim-sheens/story-fndujljl-1226729201288
ON the verge of a World Cup debut for Australia, Andrew Fifita wants to explain one thing: I have no issues whatsoever with Tim Sheens.“I left the Wests Tigers on a good note and that’s what I want people to know," Fifita said.
Hoping to cap a meteoric rise by being named in Australia’s 24-man World Cup squad, which is announced 24 hours after next Sunday’s Grand Final, Fifita has dispelled any notion of bad blood with Sheens by virtually thanking the former Tigers and current Kangaroos coach for cutting him loose at the end of 2011.
“He came and sat me down when I was at the Tigers and told me he doesn’t think he would have enough money is in his cap to keep me," Fifita said.
“And the Sharks were offering a contract so he thought it would be better for me and my family to move across to the Sharks.
“It really wasn’t a big deal and anything else that has been said just isn’t right.
“I’m actually glad Sheensy did it. I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in now if I didn’t go to the Sharks, who have helped me get to Origin this year."
Fifita said he had spoken briefly to Sheens during the Origin period, claiming he was looking forward to the possibility of being coached by him again.
“Hopefully he’s got some room in the squad for the big fella," Fifita added with a smile.
“With the year we’ve just come off as a team at the Sharks and personally also, I’ve debuted in a few things like Origin and City-Country. Hopefully I get to debut in an Aussie team.
FifitaAndrew Fifita enjoys himself at training. Picture: Brett Costello
“It is the highest honour and it would mean the world to me to run out with an Aussie jumper on."
The 24-year-old front-rower has been a revelation, culminating in his nomination for prop of the year at Tuesday night’s Dally M Awards.
But Fifita said he was taking nothing for granted, knowing that Sheens has a history of showing loyalty to his Test incumbents.
“This has been my year where everything is just coming through," Fifita said.
“But it’s going to be a hard squad to make. I’m not trying to get my hopes up . . . there are plenty of good forwards in the NRL.
“And over the years Sheensy has been using a lot of back-rowers as their front-rowers, so I just don’t know.
“Flanno (Sharks coach Shane Flanagan) has given us this weekend off, but I’m going back on Monday to start training the house back down just in case I get picked."
Fifita said he was still coming to terms with Cronulla’s exit from the finals series against Manly.
“It’s going to take some time to get over, we know it’s a game we should’ve won," he said.
“As a group, we need to make sure we learn from it and come back bigger and stronger next year."
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What a load of dribble. This guy whinged for nearly a year and half about how he left this club. Flannagan even stepped in to tell him to zip it.
Now he just wants a World Cup spot so he backtracks. Geeze he is a good footballer, but a king sized moron off the field.
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@LaT:
What a load of dribble. This guy whinged for nearly a year and half about how he left this club. Flannagan even stepped in to tell him to zip it.
Now he just wants a World Cup spot so he backtracks. Geeze he is a good footballer, but a king sized moron off the field.
it’s called playing the game…of course he is going to say the right things to get picked…
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He can play the game, but doesn’t have to lay it on so thick.
He has backflipped on a number of issues. He should have just left it at “no issues between Sheens or myself”.
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it’s called playing the game…of course he is going to say the right things to get picked…
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It’s called being soft. He ran his mouth off when he left. Playing the game would have been equal to him saying “I wasn’t happy at the time but in hindsight it was the change that I needed. I have moved on from it.” (Or something along those lines) But that’s not what he has done, he has denied ever having a problem… Why didn’t the journo challenge him on that?
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" I wouldn’t be in the position I am now if I didn’t go to the Sharks’
So in other words , Sheens didn’t know who to get the best out of him in his opinion
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Yeah right.What a load of one bag two bags three bags full. Full of BS
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With the benefit of hindsight he probably regrets what he said at the time.
Completely understandable from someone so young.
Who on here can honestly say they never flew off the handle and later regretted it ? -
Veiled putdown for West Tigers - " I wouldn’t be in the position I am now if I didn’t go to the Sharks’. What did he find at the Sharks that made he say that?
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@happy tiger:
" I wouldn’t be in the position I am now if I didn’t go to the Sharks’
So in other words , Sheens didn’t know who to get the best out of him in his opinion
Bingo!
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Who cares if he does have an issue with Sheens or if Sheens has an issue with him. It’s irrelevant. When it comes to selection in a representative team the only thing that should matter is form.
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With the benefit of hindsight he probably regrets what he said at the time.
Completely understandable from someone so young.
Who on here can honestly say they never flew off the handle and later regretted it ?There is flying off the handle, and there is an 18 month whinge through the media.
I can easily move on if it was just harsh words said under stress, I’m less likely to move on when it still going on well over a year later.
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Fifita was a lazy kid with a bad attitude at the Tigers. He has grown up since moving to the Sharks.
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Why wouldn’t he like the guy. Sheens did him the biggest favour in hindsight
And as was stated by someone else, how old was he when he made those comments, 20? How would you expect a kid that age to react to something like that
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Still hate that we let him go… I think hes one of the most talented props in the game.
