I’ll play Origin for free: Fifita

Sydney: Andrew Fifita has issued a plea to Brad Fittler and the NSW hierarchy to pick him for games one and three in the State of Origin series, declaring he would play for free.

The Cronulla front-rower will not be available for the second game of the series due to a a scheduling clash with an international between Tonga and Samoa at Campbelltown Stadium next month.

However, after emerging as one of the form players in the competition in the past month Fifita has made it clear his allegiance to Tonga did nothing to dilute his passion for playing for NSW and his desire to feature in a series victory against Queensland.

“If they can make it happen I wouldn’t say no,” Fifita told Triple M radio when asked about his Origin ambitions after Cronulla’s 22-16 win over Canterbury on Sunday night. “There is nothing more in the world I want than to win a State of Origin series. I’ve never won one before. I’d love to win one. I wouldn’t let the team down.

“My heart is through and through a Blue. If they can make it happen... I’d play for free. I’d donate the money to charity, I don’t really mind. If we get the series win and I get that under my belt and have a series win to my name I have done pretty much everything in the game.”

Considering a player for only two matches of a series would be unorthodox but while Fittler is still leaning against including Fifita he is somewhat less resistant about the idea than he was.

“I still feel pretty strongly about the decision he made, but I’m going to give it another week,” Fittler said. - Stuff