Email reveals Sharks Fifita brothers have been in trouble before and gone unpunished
Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-Large
The Daily Telegraph
July 27, 2015 12:00AM
THE Cronulla Sharks stand accused of ignoring a previous complaint of serious misconduct levelled at star forward Andrew Fifita and his twin brother David from a junior rugby league game two years ago.
As the NRL and the Sharks were preparing to hand down season-ending suspensions, The Daily Telegraph obtained a private email sent to the Sharks two years ago containing more allegations of off-field misbehaviour.
Fearing repercussions, the person who made the complaint has asked not to be named.
I regret to inform you the behaviour of both players (the Fifita brothers) on the side line was far from acceptable for any patron in the crowd let alone professional rugby league players, he wrote.
Both players were yelling abuse from the sideline which was heard by everyone, encouraging spear tackles, head highs and fights.
(They were) yelling smash the fat c
and take his head off from the sideline which was heard by everyone.
The man who lodged the complaint via email did not even get a response from the Sharks.
He said that when confronted by a player for his abuse, Andrew responded: You are lucky Im a footy player otherwise I would smash your head in.
This incident is alleged to have occurred on Sunday, August 19, 2013 at a semi-final between St Patricks Fifitas old club and Emu Plains.
The Fifita brothers were involved in another incident in Penrith juniors on Saturday in which Andrew has been accused of physically threatening a 24-year-old referee, who is also a fully trained member of the NSW Police riot squad.
Three volunteer officials had to restrain the Sharks forward, who allegedly said to the referee: Ill smash you.
The referee was using his mobile phone and attempting to film Fifitas brother David while he was swearing and abusing him over his decisions on the field.
The Daily Telegraph understands Andrew Fifita is denying he made any physical threats to the referee but said: Ill smash your phone.
The Penrith junior rugby league will conduct a judiciary hearing into the incident this week.
Andrew Fifita was fined $10,000 last year for abusing a newspaper photographer at the teams Mad Monday. He was also allegedly involved in a road rage incident at Taren Point.
The NRL integrity unit is urgently seeking a response from the Sharks.
Sources suggest CEO Dave Smith is horrified by the reports and will demand the heaviest of penalties, including season-ending suspensions, if allegations are proved.
Smith said yesterday that match officials were the lifeblood of the game and there would be serious consequences for any NRL players engaging in physical or verbal abuse or intimidation of them.
Match officials give up their time because they love the game and the last thing they should be subjected to is abuse or intimidation, Mr Smith said.
It is even more intolerable if someone with the stature of an NRL player is involved we want the full facts to be presented in this matter.
Sharks boss Lyall Gorman accused the twins of letting down their teammates, the club and the game. Gorman held a press conference at Belmore Sports Ground yesterday before the Sharks match against the Bulldogs.
The allegations are a great concern, Gorman said.
(If the allegations are proven) our players have acted very inappropriately in letting themselves down, their teammates down, letting our club down and, more importantly, the whole game of rugby league.
(It is alleged) some foul language was directed towards the match official. Ive been emailed a copy of the referees report this morning.
If the allegations are proven to be correct, we have a zero tolerance to any behaviour that attacks the role of referees at any level of the game.
That sort of behaviour is abhorrent. It is so far against our club culture and brand weve been working so hard on over the last nine months.
It is very disturbing if these allegations are proven to be true and wed be reviewing with the NRL what the appropriate sanctions might involve.
There was some controversy over Cronullas decision to allow Fifita to play on Sunday because of Gormans comments.
Two hours before the game, integrity unit boss Nick Weekes wrote to the Sharks advising that if either player had admitted abusing a match official, they should be immediately stood down.
The NRL will never prejudge anyone accused of breaches everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence, Smith said.
But if we become aware of any NRL players abusing match officials there will be very significant consequences.
