top four hopes – Michmutters
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Sports

The pain behind Andrew Fifita’s emotional celebration

Sharks veteran Andrew Fifita couldn’t hear the home crowd chanting his name on Saturday night when he crashed over for a try that was eerily similar to the one he scored in the 2016 grand final.

And while he would have loved to have heard the support from the Cronulla faithful, the only support he’s really cared about over the past 12 months has been from his partner who has been there for him after the scariest moment of their lives.

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The Sharks should finish in the top four thanks to Andrew Fifita's try.  Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
The Sharks should finish in the top four thanks to Andrew Fifita’s try. Picture: Matt King/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Fifita suffered a shocking throat injury and spent several days in an induced coma last season, but before he got to the hospital, he messaged his wife telling her that he didn’t think he’d survive.

“That’s why I was a lot more emotional when I went over,” he said of his special celebration.

“It’s been a long time, especially for my missus. What she went through, especially in this round, that’s why it felt way more emotional. I think the excitement got the better of me and I started pointing at her saying, ‘See, you don’t believe me’.

“It did get the better of me.

“It’s Women in League round so I wanted to do this for her, but she didn’t believe me. I told her I was going to go over – I had a feeling – and it came true.”

Saturday’s try was the first time Fifita had scored in the NRL since 2020, and it brought back memories of his legendary four-pointer against the Storm in the 2016 decider.

Andrew Fifita scored the most famous try in Sharks history. Picture: Phil HillyardSource: Supplied

That one was in the 68th minute, while this one was a few seconds earlier, and it could prove telling for Cronulla’s top-four hopes.

But can you compare them?

“Por favor. That was the best try in the club’s history so it won’t go near it. I’m just grateful to get over the paint,” he said.

It’s been a long road back for Fifita, who doesn’t play the big minutes he used to.

But if he can chime in with big plays in clutch moments, then he looms as a wildcard for their premiership push.

“That was vintage Andrew,” skipper Wade Graham said.

“He’s worked hard and he’s a great character to have around the place with how much care he has for the team and the club.

“When he has energy, the team has energy – not just the team – but the club as well. You heard the crowd after the try chanting his name from him. ”

Those chants were so loud that you would’ve been able to hear them through the TV even if you had it on mute, yet there was one person who missed it.

“I honestly didn’t hear it,” Fifita said.

Cronulla Sharks press conference | 08:39

“Everyone was saying it, but I sh*t you not, I was saying to the boys ‘what do you mean Andrew chant’.

“When you’re out there it’s different, so you can’t really hear the crowd. You hear them roaring, but I didn’t hear it, and that’s what everyone was saying. I came in here and Dale (Finucane) was going ‘Andrew’.

“I’m grateful. At least I’ve left my touch on here, so I’m all good.”

The try caps a difficult couple of years for Fifita, who spent time in reserve grade playing with the Jets but will now need to step up with Royce Hunt likely to miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury.

“I wanted to play, and I’m forever grateful for Newtown because they brought the love of footy back in for me,” he said.

“Playing big minutes and having some fun on the ball, it was just one of those times.

“Did I think I’d get back? I knew I’d get back to the NRL – that was always there – but the thing for me was about getting back after the accident.”

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Sports

Brisbane Lions loss to Richmond, MCG losing streak, Chris Fagan press conference, why was Darcy Fort sub, Zac Bailey injury

The Brisbane Lions’ premiership hopes took a significant hit on Sunday afternoon, with Richmond putting the side’s top-four hopes in jeopardy following a stunning come-from-behind win at the MCG.

Brisbane at one stage in the first half held a 42-point lead, but was reigned in during a thrilling second-half that ultimately ended in the Lions’ 11th straight loss at the MCG, with the side still yet to win at the venue since 2014.

Despite the loss, Fagan said the MCG hoodoo remained an external talking point rather than a genuine phenomenon.

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Brisbane Lions press conference | 06:30

“It’s our best performance at the MCG for a long period of time I would’ve thought,” he said post-game.

“It doesn’t matter to me but I thought anyone watching the game would’ve thought it was a fantastic game of football. We were in it all the way to the end.

“Richmond had a really strong team tonight outside of Dustin. They had a lot to play for, as did we, we were trying to cement ourselves in the top four, now we’re in a battle, they’re trying to get back in the eight … there was no lack of effort on our side or theirs, it was a good reply in that regard.”

Not helping the Lions’ cause was an injury to Zac Bailey in the opening half, which forced Darcy Fort – a ruckman – into the contest as his replacement.

It was a move that raised eyebrows, but one Fagan was coy on when asked post-game.

“In hindsight it was the wrong decision to have Darcy as the sub. It’s probably something I’d rather keep in-house to be honest,” he said.

“I appreciate you asking the question, but we have our reasons and they’re good reasons, but in reflection tonight it would’ve been better to have a running player for sure.”

Speaking on Fox Footy, Dermott Brereton said Fagan had every right to be more frustrated with his side.

“I wouldn’t like to be sitting on one of the wooden seats inside the rooms as coach Fagan decides to give them a recital of what he’s just seen in the last 60 minutes,” he said.

Richmond Tigers Press Conference | 08:42

“Even though they got to within two goals at three quarter-time, I felt like they could still stabilize, Brisbane. Not until Rioli bombed one from 55m did I go ‘woah, this is really dangerous for them now’.”

Co-host Nick Dal Santo said the MCG factor was less of a concern than the sheer collapse the side suffered in the second half.

“Yes the ground conversation will get brought up and I think rightly so, but more damning and more disappointing from a coach’s perspective and the leaders of this football club is they weren’t able to shut the game down during the third quarter, let alone the last quarter,” he said.

“Lachie Neale got enough of the football, so my question becomes what went wrong and who didn’t stand up?

“Because you can’t ask a lot more from their key forwards, particularly in that first half, but it dropped off so quickly and their inability to minimize the momentum when the Tigers had it.”

Asked if there were elements of a “choke” in the Lions’ loss, Dal Santo said: “You’d have to say yes. But to what degree of a choke, I’m not quite sure.

“But when you’re up by 42 points, you are well and truly in control.”

Brereton added: “I thought they put in well enough to say it wasn’t a choke. Richmond just went back to their tried and true formula.”

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