I am still waiting for my Instagram post that I am playing for Tonga from the club”.
And, until Andrew Fifita does, he will be in his trailer! *hairflick.
Andrew Fifita … Someone needs to have a word to the Sharks wrecking ball before he wrecks himself.Credit:NRL Photos
If any comment neatly captured the self-absorbed modern sportsperson, it was this from the Cronulla prop in Auckland earlier this week before the historic first international between the Kangaroos and Tonga.
Fifita was last month named Dally M prop of the year and was the star of their 2016 premiership, but some at Cronulla are genuinely starting to wonder if hes worth the trouble.
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Coach Shane Flanagan has skilfully got the best he can out of Fifita, conscious of Fifitas well-publicised issues with his mental health. But how much longer can he put up with the sideshow?
It is coming to a point when Fifita needs to stop whinging about his own club and the media and simply be the 120-kilogram, left-foot stepping wrecking ball he was born to be.
Dally Ms and man-of-the-match performances during the season are one thing. But its the grand occasion that matters most. He cost the Sharks any chance of beating the Storm in the preliminary final when he lost his head in the final two minutes of the first half.
First, he gave away a weak penalty with a crusher tackle on Melbourne prop Jesse Bromwich – his third of the match to that point. Then, from the next set, he ran out of the line, took out Bromwich and got in a fight. His absence from the defensive line allowed Billy Slater to latch onto a grubber kick from Cameron Smith and score. At 20-0, the match was over.
Now, think back to State of Origin last year. Fifita was stunning in the first game, using all of his many skills to inspire the Blues to victory. Then he signed a fat contract extension with the Sharks and was barely sighted in the next two Origins.
Doubtless, the wrecking ball will pull on the red Tongan jersey tomorrow and swing right through the Australian forward pack, leaving defenders in his wake.
And then, afterwards, he will no doubt say something silly, insult someone and play the victim. He should be so much more than a cheap headline, and he desperately needs someone to explain how.
A few years ago, Sharks coach Ricky Stuart sent Paul Gallen to Ron Massey to deliver some home truths about being a so-called “grubby” player. Stuart knew Gallen could be so much more.
Gallen knocked on the door. Massey opened it.
“Youre a softcock,” were Masseys opening words.
By the time Gallen left, his ears still ringing, he was a new player. Massey has left us but Flanagan could do worse than find a figure of that standing to tell Fifita about how special and respected he could be.
Hayne plane won't be landing at the Dragons
Jarryd Hayne to Dragons? Fake news!
The Dragons are bemused at reports they're set to offer the Eels star a contract for next season, calling it out for what it is: his management trying to force Parramatta into offering him a serious deal.
A brief discussion took place but the Dragons scoffed at the asking price. That was it.
In limbo: Jarryd Hayne is yet to re-sign with the Eels.Credit:NRL Photos
Expect more clubs to be touted as possible destinations for Hayne.
The Eels need to move players to find the money he's looking for and they're having trouble getting anyone to leave.
Thing is, Hayne finished the season very strongly. When hes in the mood, the Hayne Plane can still fly.
Manly players snub pro-Toovey pub
Bring back Tooves!
So reads the maroon-and-white banner outside the iconic Brookvale Hotel on Pittwater Road, which wants Geoff Toovey back as Manly coach — not Des Hasler.
Gone but not forgotten: Former Manly coach Geoff Toovey.Credit:Quentin Jones
“We at the Brookvale Hotel strongly believe that Manly should Bring Back Tooves as coach of the Sea Eagles, arguably the toughest man to ever play the game of rugby league,” the pubs website reads. “He coached the club for four seasons, making it to the finals three times and a grand final appearance in 2013, with a winning strike rate of 58 per cent. Manly needs to be a force once more and to be trained by one of its own!”
Not everyone at the Sea Eagles agrees, including some of the current playing squad who refuse to drink at the pub because they dont share the sentiment of "bringing back Tooves".
V'landys scales new heights with The Everest
Of all the indicators that The Everest was a raging success, perhaps the most telling came out of Melbourne with Racing Victoria ordering the Herald-Sun to confine its coverage to less than a quarter of a page.
Racing NSW boss Peter Vlandys wanted to be “disrupt” the industry and hes certainly done that: hes got Melbourne worried.
For an event that was apparently “on the nose” with “Sydneys social scene” because of the Opera House barrier draw controversy, it certainly seemed quite popular.
The Theatre of the Horse was heaving — before race one. The old grandstand was heaving — before race one. Police eventually told the ATC to shut the gate and a crowd of more than 40,000 was announced.
Meanwhile, the punters climbed in. One corporate bookie reported a 63 per cent increase in turnover for the meeting. Remember: it was a rain-affected track.
And heres a quirky figure: the meeting is now only second to the Bledisloe Cup for hire car usage for a sporting event. Bring on the light rail.
As for the race, it was a tough and tumble affair, not dissimilar to the Golden Slipper. With $13 million in prizemoney on offer, you can understand the excitement.
Spare a thought for larger-than-life Kings Cross character Max Whitby, who was a slot owner and had Graff.
The Kris Lees-trained colt was beaten by half a length into fourth by Le Romain. That cost him $220,000, with fourth receiving a whopping $820,000 and fifth $500,000.
That, as they say in the classics, is racing.
Eels deserve better from Western Sydney Stadium
The imbroglio between Parramatta and the operators of the Western Sydney Stadium is real and concerning.
Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr has been accused by some of using the announcement next week of the NRL draw to squeeze out a better deal to use the shiny new stadium, which will be completed early next year.
Not so: hes been trying to sort a deal out since last year.
As we understand it, the Eels were infuriated when Venues Live, which manages the stadium, threatened to open it with a Waratahs match.
Its hardly the right way to treat your main tenant — along with the Wanderers — for the next 25 years and beyond.
Q&A: Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson
The NBA season is under way. We speak to ESPN analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson about what lies ahead …
The game here is growing because of the likes of Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles and Dante Exum. Thoughts on their impact in the NBA?
JACKSON: Their impact has been outstanding. Bens a generational talent. He came with expectations from day one and hasnt disappointed. He had an outstanding year last year and hes going to build on it. Exum is about being healthy. I expect a great season from him being healthy and whole. Tremendous size, tremendous athletic ability. With Ingles, he just knows how to play. Dangerous player. Smart player. I remember him starting with the Clippers and now in Utah. Thats a heck of a basketball team. I really think Utah and Philadelphia are more than capable of advancing in the play-offs. Theyre that good.
VAN GUNDY: Exums time in the NBA has been so choppy due to injury. Hopefully, this is the year he can be healthy and have a productive year. I love Joe Ingles. Hes a tremendous glue player, terrific shooter, passer, defender. Ben Simmons: everyone wants to focus on what he cant do, which is trying to rush him into being a range shooter. Simmons and Philly have done a good job in focusing on what he does great versus what he doesnt do as well. And I think thats hard to do with all the critics you get as a player.
All the way with LBJ? LeBron James shows off his new colours in the pre-season.Credit:AP
What does LeBron James need to do with the Lakers for his move to be considered a success?
JACKSON: Its about the improvement that the Lakers show. The goal is to win a championship and, when you have the best player in the world, thats the goal. Is it realistic? Im not sure. But to show improvement, to show growth … Its a win already because the Lakers are once again relevant. Now its about developing winning habits and progressing towards that march.
Can anyone beat Golden State?
VAN GUNDY: If you said I can take the field or I can bet Golden State, I would bet Golden State. I thought Houston would get them and I still think they would have if Chris Paul hadnt gotten hurt. But, this year, if Golden State is into it, theyre by far the best team and will win.
JACKSON: To answer your second question first, Golden State is the clear-cut favourite.
Watch the opening weekend of the NBA season live on ESPN
The quote
“Who said slavery is over?” — Yes, Sunrise host David Koch went there when talking about Usain Bolt being offered a two-year deal with Maltese club Valletta FC. He then dug a deeper hole by trying to defend the remark.
Usain Bolt: David Koch made a goose of himself when discussing the Jamaican's potential move to Malta.Credit:AAP
Thumbs up
Come here and give us a big hug, Prince Harry. His Royal Highness came up with the idea of the Invictus Games four years ago for wounded, sick and injured service personnel and its been a raging success. This years event gets under way in Sydney on Saturday.
Thumbs down
The Australian mens and womens teams are having a good old laugh over a story in the New Zealand Herald about them closing down the bar on the Waiheke Island Ferry, making comparisons to David Boons 52 cans flying from Sydney-London. Integrity Unit investigator Karyn Murphy was on board.
Its a big weekend for …
Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, who both have tough away matches to start their A-League season against Adelaide and Perth respectively.
Its an even bigger weekend for …
Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson and Channel Nine state political reporter — and Dragons tragic — Chris OKeefe, who will tie the knot today. Love: not always a battlefield.
Chief Sports Writer, The Sydney Morning Herald
