BARNSTORMING Cronulla, NSW and Australian prop Andrew Fifita has dropped a bombshell just 47 days out from the start of the NRL season by revealing he's weighing up a potential switch to rugby.
The 2013 Dally M Prop of the Year, an integral part of the Kangaroos' World Cup triumph in England, is contracted to the Sharks for 2014 - but he admits the ARU's interest, led by Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, is proving attractive.
"[McKenzie] asked me if I wanted to chase another dream pretty much and it always has been a dream of mine to play first grade rugby - I grew up playing rugby," Fifita, 24, told The Daily Telegraph.
"I've accomplished almost everything rugby league has to offer and he said, 'This is an option - don't consider it if your heart's not in it.'
"Being told by the Australian coach that you could have the opportunity to play with the Wallabies is a big rock just landing on you… several [rugby] clubs are talking saying they need a good number eight and I could fill in that position."
Arguably the most athletic front-rower in the NRL, the Sharks superstar could prove a revelation at the back of the scrum in the 15-man code.
The giant enforcer, however, insists his first preference is to remain at Cronulla - and, whichever option he chooses, he aims to sign a new deal by early March.
"I'd love to be at the Sharks and my number one priority is to stay here but I'm looking to sign something by round one," Fifita said.
"I'm sealed here for 2014 but it's up to me and my family - I'm going to take a look at my options but the number one priority is to stay at the Sharks for life. If I sign I want to sign a long-term deal… but I definitely have more dreams to accomplish in life. I had a dream to play rugby league with Australia and that was one of the best things of my life.
"I'm happy here, I want to stay here but at the end of the day I've got to look after my family and I'll do what any man would do at any household."
Fifita said he and his Cronulla teammates are focused entirely on the future, despite the ASADA investigation - and the status of stood-down coach Shane Flanagan - still hanging over the club.
"I've come back [from the World Cup] under a new coaching staff and all new players and everyone is missing 'Flanno' deeply and he has our full support but at the end of the day we have 'Sharpie' (promoted assistant coach Peter Sharp) now and we've got to follow him," Fifita said.
"If the light does come at the end of the tunnel for 'Flanno' we'll be more than happy to have him back - the club's missing him - but we've got a job to do and that's focussing on the 2014 season."
And Fifita, fresh off a breakout 2013 season, said he's determined to make it his best year yet.
"I'm going to make 2014 a year to remember. I don't want to have second-year syndrome - I really want to go further than what I did and help the team go deeper into the finals too," Fifita said.
"I'd love to write history here at Cronulla - they might even put up a stand in our honour if we did that. To win the Sharks' first competition would be awesome - I'll do anything to get us there."
