Townsville Bulletin

Fifita seeks some respect for Tonga

- MICHAEL CARAYANNIS

ANDREW Fifita believes Cronulla has shown Tonga a lack of recognitio­n as he prepares to face Australia for the first time.

Fifita, 29, watched on as the club paid respect to his teammates for their selection in representa­tive sides, at the Monty Porter Medal Night earlier this month.

It’s the second time in less than two months that Fifita has butted heads with Sharks management. He launched a tirade at Shane Flanagan in the coach’s box after he scored a try in the Sharks’ round 23 win over North Queensland, in response to criticism he had received from the Cronulla mentor.

Yesterday, Fifita also made a cheeky dig at the club’s social media account which has congratula­ted the club’s Junior Kiwis, Junior Kangaroos, Kangaroos and PM’s XIII representa­tives.

“If I was in the Australia ( team) the club would be proud I was in it,” Fifita said.

“I am still waiting for my Instagram post that I am playing for Tonga from the club. I guess most of the boys want to be acknowledg­ed as a force team. We just want to be known.

“I remember our CEO ( Barry Russell) sitting there and giving all the credits to all the Australian players and Junior Kangaroos and I was waiting for my name to be called, just for representi­ng on the internatio­nal stage.

“There was no Tonga, no PNG for Chicko ( James Sege-

 ?? OUTSPOKEN: Andrew Fifita ( right) and Sika Manu share a laugh during Tonga training in Auckland yesterday. ??
OUTSPOKEN: Andrew Fifita ( right) and Sika Manu share a laugh during Tonga training in Auckland yesterday.

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