Fifita: I’ll donate my Origin fee
Rugged forward Andrew Fifita says he’d play State of Origin for free and donate his A$30,000 ($32,700) in match fees to charity if New South Wales coach Brad Fittler picks him.
The NRL’s Dally M leader made the stunning pledge after leading Cronulla to their fifth straight win on Sunday, a 22-16 home triumph over Canterbury that vaulted the Sharks into fifth spot.
“If they can make it happen, I’m not just going to go out there — I’d play for free. I’ll donate my money to charity. I don’t really mind,” Fifita said.
Fittler earlier said he wouldn’t rule out selecting Fifita for game one of the series in Melbourne on June 6 despite the front rower being unavailable for Origin II on June 24.
Fifita can’t play because of his allegiance to Tonga, who play Samoa in a Pacific test in Campbelltown the night before the second Origin game.
“There’s nothing more in the world I want [than] to win a State of Origin series,” said Cronulla’s 2016 grand final hero and 2013 World Cup winner with Australia.
“I’ve never won one before and, look, I’d love to win one. I wouldn’t let the team down. My heart is through and through a blue.
“If we get that series win and I get that under my belt and I have that series win to my name, then I’ve done pretty much everything in the game.” Whether others in the New South Wales camp see it the same way remains to be seen, despite a softening in stance from Fittler.
New South Wales Rugby League officials last week said Fifita would not be considered because he had elected to play in the test.
Melbourne Storm player Curtis Scott has escaped with a two-match ban after his punch to Sea Eagles fiveeighth Dylan Walker in their clash on Saturday. Scott was sent off midway through the second half after leaving Walker with a fractured eye socket. Scott pleaded guilty to the grade three striking charge.
Manly’s Apisai Koroisau had been given a one-game ban for his part in the incident. Melbourne’s Kiwi forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been fined A$1100 for a careless high tackle in the game.
Josh Reynolds is preparing for an emotional showdown against former NRL club Canterbury on Sunday after overcoming a shoulder injury.
The Wests Tigers marquee recruit is set to play his second game for the joint venture after an injury interrupted start to 2018.
Reynolds departed his junior club at the end of last year after the Bulldogs were unable to match the Tigers’ big money four-year deal.
His first season for the Tigers is off to a rocky start after managing less than 30 minutes of game time because of injury.
He missed the first five rounds with a hamstring problem before going down with a shoulder injury against Manly.
He had his first contact session with the side last week and trained strongly yesterday ahead of Sunday’s clash with the club he grew up supporting as a kid and played 138 NRL games for across seven seasons.
“He hasn’t said too much about it but I think deep down, it’s a game he definitely wanted to get back for,” teammate Luke Brooks said.
“It will be a bit weird for him, playing a lot of games at the Dogs.”