Cronulla’s grand final hero Andrew Fifita has announced his retirement from the game bringing the curtain down on a memorable career which has been punctuated with plenty of standout moments.
The fiery prop will be most remembered for his match-winning try for the Sharks in their premiership win in 2016, his key role in New South Wales’ State of Origin series victory which ended Queensland’s unprecedented era of dominance, and his time in the red jersey of Tonga.
"I have made the hard decision to announce my retirement from the NRL," Fifita said when speaking with Sharks Media.
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"I am extremely grateful for all the milestones and memories I have made at the Sharks.
"I can retire knowing I’ve fulfilled everything I had dreamed of achieving.
“Thank you to the Cronulla Sharks and to all of the members and fans for sticking with me and celebrating all of the highs I have experienced in my career."
The 33-year-old made his debut over a decade ago for the Wests Tigers, where he plied his trade for two years.
It was his move to Cronulla though where Fifita really began to establish himself as an elite forward, racking up representative honours and earning himself a reputation as a big-game player.
This season he made his 250th career appearance in the NRL, where he was given a standing ovation by the faithful at Shark Park as he left the field.
He became just the 10th player in Cronulla's history to notch over 200 matches for the club and is viewed as an icon and an all-time club great.
Fifita announced 2022 would be his 11th and final year in Sharks colours. Yet he has now revealed that despite wanting to play on, injury has forced him into retirement earlier than he had anticipated.
“I had spoken to [Manly’s] Dessie [Hasler] and [Canterbury’s] Cameron [Ciraldo] about helping them with some leadership in their pack next year,’’ Fifita told The Daily Telegraph.
“What killed me was the medicals. When you’re leaving a club, you have an exit medical which analyses your body. The doc sat me down and ran me through it all.’’
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Fifita revealed he faced the prospect of having to undergo multiple surgeries just to get back into contention to be out on the field.
He detailed a troublesome knee injury which would need to be fixed, along with ankle and shoulder reconstructions, coupled with dental surgery for missing teeth.
It’s a premature end for Fifita, who has won a multitude of individual and team awards, including being named Dally M Prop of the Year.
However, it is his time with Tonga the man himself rates most highly amongst his career achievements.
Fifita turned down the chance to play for the Kangaroos at the last World Cup, in favour of playing for his ancestral nation.
His move, along with Jason Taumalolo’s defection from New Zealand, sparked an international movement amongst Pasifika players as the Tongans went on a fairy-tale run to the semi-finals in 2017.
