Andrew Fifita tells junior rugby league referee: ‘I’ll smash you’

[magpie4ever]

Oh ok, I thought it summed up my post but obviously not. All I'm trying to say is that theirs wildly conflicting views to this story and it's not as black and white as many people claim. So many people are willing to write the fifita's of completely without looking at all sides of the story so I've probably given the fifita's more of the benefit of the doubt. While they've definitely done wrong we don't know the extent yet so we should wait until a proper investigation has been done if the incident was as it was initially reported it'd probably mean a lifetime suspension for the twins and the end of their nrl careers, but if you listen to only the twins side of the story a 12 month junior suspension, a few nrl games suspension and a big fine will probably be the case. So looking at it from all sides and finding out the truth in this story is vital

WTF, if the ref's story is accepted that would be an acceptable suspension.

He can thank his lucky stars that some Patties officials held him back or it would have been life.

 

[Miller was a legend]

WTF, if the ref's story is accepted that would be an acceptable suspension.

He can thank his lucky stars that some Patties officials held him back or it would have been life.

You need a hug?

You really are going over the top Maggie.

Most people are saying they were out of line and deserve punishment. All they are suggesting is all sides if this need to be heard to determine what really took place. Only then can the severity of punishment be determined.

If the Fifita's have legal representation to argue the facts, then they must have that opportunity. Why should the club be at risk of legal action by acting without due process being undertaken. The Sharks have been whacked for lack of governance, they are following due process in this case and now people want to whack them for that? Can't have it both ways

 

[Sydney Knight]

Must say, they are not volunteers - they are paid.

This is true but the amount they are paid is generally not the reason they are there. You would need to love league because if you were just doing it for money you could probably make more collecting trolleys on a Saturday.

 

[DiegoNT]

WTF, if the ref's story is accepted that would be an acceptable suspension.

He can thank his lucky stars that some Patties officials held him back or it would have been life.

For David fifita it could range from a case of getting into an argument with a ref were the ref was the initial aggressor ( as is told from the captain of the st pats team) to David going off at the ref after the ref politely told him he wasn't going to answer his question), either way David done the wrong thing, but the punishments would have different severities

For Andrew, he didn't get involved until the camera phone was introduced
It could range from Andrew demanding the video being deleted or 'I'll smash your phone' and him being led away by officials to Andrew saying 'I'll smash you' and having to be physically dragged away from the ref. Again in both cases Andrew has done the wrong thing, but again the severity in punishment can be different depending on what the truth of the matter is

Even with Andrew 'being restrained' by the 3 officials what does that really mean did they stand in front of fifita and ask him to leave. Did the have to put their hands on him and lead him away or did they have to physically grab him and use force to drag him away? It all makes a difference in the severity of the incident

 

[Miller was a legend]

For David fifita it could range from a case of getting into an argument with a ref were the ref was the initial aggressor ( as is told from the captain of the st pats team) to David going off at the ref after the ref politely told him he wasn't going to answer his question), either way David done the wrong thing, but the punishments would have different severities

For Andrew, he didn't get involved until the camera phone was introduced
It could range from Andrew demanding the video being deleted or 'I'll smash your phone' and him being led away by officials to Andrew saying 'I'll smash you' and having to be physically dragged away from the ref. Again in both cases Andrew has done the wrong thing, but again the severity in punishment can be different depending on what the truth of the matter is

Even with Andrew 'being restrained' by the 3 officials what does that really mean did they stand in front of fifita and ask him to leave. Did the have to put their hands on him and lead him away or did they have to physically grab him and use force to drag him away? It all makes a difference in the severity of the incident

Well done!

 

[Miller was a legend]

If they put a weighting on the punishment based on their combined IQ, they will be back next week

 

[elbusto]

If you want to blame anybody for this issue and the way it plays out on footy fields across the country then try this:

Blame the media across the board for the crap they throw at refs for alleged sub standard decision making;

Blame the referees system that has far too many officials out there these days which increases the ridiculous expectations of spectators that they will always get it right;

Blame the video referral system which creates excruciating delays for decisions which are still often seemingly wrong because of the freeze frame technology; and

Blame the NRL hierarchy for not coming down hard on players for blowing up at refs like we saw yesterday.

I have no idea what the Fifitas did last Saturday and a lot of the comment here has been utter rubbish based on prejudice against the ref or the players involved.

But that event is only a small part of a much larger malaise. The treatment of referees will only improve when they get a smidgeon of respect at the top level.

At the moment they are under far too much scrutiny and subject to too much media pressure.

Bring back one referee and two touch judges and allow the game to speak for itself once again. And accept the poor bastards will make mistakes.

 

[magpie4ever]

Someone I'm close to copped a multi week suspension this year for have a shot at a ref's bias while on the field - intilally binned for 10 minutes than 2nd go - 4 weeks.

Any excuses, no. As a 19 year old playing in a semi-pro open age comp (with hormones raging) is undoubtly the reason but he needed to learn that it doesn't matter how pumped up you are, you cant throw abuse at a referee - need to suck it up and find the release in another way.

So if the Fifitas cop, say, 4 weeks, a fine and a 1 year ban from junior league games I would suggest it would be appropriate on the verbal abuse fired at the ref for whatever reason caused it.

 

[magpie4ever]

If you want to blame anybody for this issue and the way it plays out on footy fields across the country then try this:

Blame the media across the board for the crap they throw at refs for alleged sub standard decision making;

Blame the referees system that has far too many officials out there these days which increases the ridiculous expectations of spectators that they will always get it right;

Blame the video referral system which creates excruciating delays for decisions which are still often seemingly wrong because of the freeze frame technology; and

Blame the NRL hierarchy for not coming down hard on players for blowing up at refs like we saw yesterday.

I have no idea what the Fifitas did last Saturday and a lot of the comment here has been utter rubbish based on prejudice against the ref or the players involved.

But that event is only a small part of a much larger malaise. The treatment of referees will only improve when they get a smidgeon of respect at the top level.

At the moment they are under far too much scrutiny and subject to too much media pressure.

Bring back one referee and two touch judges and allow the game to speak for itself once again. And accept the poor bastards will make mistakes.

Yes, piss off the video ref but have maybe a in goal official. Ref, touch, in goal consult, a call is made, end of the story

 

[Miller was a legend]

Can cop that Maggie.

But if there was physical threats....BAM wipe away the slime

 

[Last Week]

I dare say I'm in the majority that would like to see Rugby League take a similar approach that cricket has towards the players treatment of umpires. More or less, you cannot question a decision what so ever. You can't even approach them.

 

[Cumberland Throw]

Love to see a zero tolerance stance bought in, you say one word or wave your arms around, 10 in the bin ...

No players even captain do any talking to ref at all, if eg.. ennis says one word, 10 in bin...

motion for a video ref, 10 in the bin...

would be awesome to see... and players would get it, in one week

 

[Miller was a legend]

Love to see a zero tolerance stance bought in, you say one word or wave your arms around, 10 in the bin ...

No players even captain do any talking to ref at all, if eg.. ennis says one word, 10 in bin...

motion for a video ref, 10 in the bin...

would be awesome to see... and players would get it, in one week

Should take it further.

If your team is shit and club under investigation for salary cap breaches, all 17 get binned for 80. At least the score would be respectable

 

[Usain Bolt]

Has the video been leaked yet?

 

[Miller was a legend]

Has the video been leaked yet?

Isn't one. Either deleted or never existed

 

[Pig Champion]

At least it draws a line in the sand. Let's see the next NRL players go crazy at a ref?

 

[Miller was a legend]

Triple M report


Brent Read told Triple M that Andrew Fifita didn't say "I'll smash you" to the referee but actually said "I'll snap your phone" as the official had a camera in his face but any video footage has been lost.

"Andrew Fifita has hired two lawyers to handle his case, two prominent lawyers and one is an SC so he's sparing no expense on this" added Read who stated Fifita is chasing some witnesses from the game.

 

[TheVelourFog]

added Read who stated Fifita is chasing some witnesses from the game.

were they trying to film him too or do they have sausages in their pockets

 

[Miller was a legend]

Neither of them asked to attend junior league judiciary hearing. WTF

 

[Card Shark]

Neither of them asked to attend junior league judiciary hearing. WTF

Considering the penalty was handed down virtually overnight, is that any surprise?