Fifita buys into Kangaroos culture after Mal takes him aside
ONE of the first things coach Mal Meninga did when Andrew Fifita arrived in camp was deliver a crash course on Kangaroos Culture 101.
Fifita had not played for his country since 2013, having been ruled out last year because of his support for onepunch killer Kieran Loveridge.
Much has changed around the Australian set-up since Meninga took the reins last year and Fifita is eager to embrace the coach’s vision.
“Our game has seen some wonderful redemptive stories throughout its history, and I can only think this will be another one,’’ said Meninga, who overlooked Fifita for last year’s Four Nations.
The Cronulla prop said he wanted to remain in the Kangaroos team for the “rest of my career’’.
Meninga phoned Fifita after weekend injuries to fellow front-rowers Aaron Woods and Shannon Boyd.
He had his bags packed to join the Tongan side in camp in Sydney.
“When I got in yesterday Mal said, ‘we’ll have a chat’, and he showed me what the players did for last year’s Anzac Day Test, how they (came up with) a policy and made it about the players, what we stand for, what the jersey means, what the Kangaroo means for them, what the crest means, all the little things,’’ Fifita said.
“It was good to get that knowledge. I’m ready to take it with both hands and buy into this culture.
“I really want to be here.”