Former Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers prop Andrew Fifita is facing a potential five-match suspension after being sent off for swearing during a weekend A-Grade park football match in southern Sydney.
If found guilty at the NSWRL judiciary, Fifita could miss the remainder of the A-Grade season, with only three regular-season rounds left before finals.
The incident has placed the Cronulla Sharks in an uncomfortable position, as Fifita is currently employed by the club in a culture and welfare role.
He is also the head coach of the Sharks’ Tarsha Gale Cup women’s junior representative side.
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Part of the 2016 NRL Grand Final winning team, who now plays for De La Salle, was sent off in the first half of a match against the Gymea Gorillas and later charged for allegedly calling the referee a c***.
Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the club has discussed the matter with Fifita.
“Andrew was sent off for swearing but he has advised the club he didn’t direct it at the referee, it was directed at an opposing player who has also confirmed that the comment was directed at him,” Mezzatesta said.
“He has also acknowledged that the language was inappropriate all the same. Andrew is waiting for a date from NSWRL for his hearing where he will be contesting the charge. The Cronulla Sharks will wait for this process to be completed.”
De La Salle club president and Sharks board member Dave Nicholson previously endorsed Fifita’s involvement in the local competition, saying his presence was a boost for young players.
“He’ll be good around the younger boys,” Nicholson said earlier this year.
“He brings a really good work ethic. It’s not about money but more about him wanting to put back into junior footy.”
This is not Fifita’s first controversy at the grassroots level.
The 36-year-old has been sin-binned multiple times in A-Grade this year and was previously involved in a racial dispute in Central Coast junior rugby league in 2023.
In 2015, Andrew and his brother David Fifita were banned for 12 months from Penrith juniors for directing abuse at a referee following a match.
A veteran of 251 NRL games, Fifita retired in 2022 after a decorated career with the Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks, including representing New South Wales and Australia at the international level.