>
Andrew Fifita will quit Cronulla after 11 years with the Sharks – as club legend aims a cheeky parting shot at Paul Gallen ahead of finals campaign
- Andrew Fifita will leave the Cronulla Sharks at the end of the 2022 season
- The 33-year-old joined the club from Wests in 2011 and won the premiership
- Now the veteran forward is looking to add a second ring later this year
- He says he wants to show off to old teammate Paul Gallen if they triumph
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
After 11 years at the Sharks, Andrew Fifita bid farewell the only way he knew how – by aiming a cheeky parting shot at former teammate Paul Gallen.
Fifita will say goodbye at the end of Cronulla’s finals run this year, with the veteran hoping to win his second premiership with the club having triumphed back in 2016.
The forward played under captain Gallen six years ago, and talking to the press on Tuesday, Fifita said he is determined to double his tally of premierships just to get one over the Sharks legend.
Andrew Fifita will say goodbye to the Cronulla Sharks after 11 years at the club this season
‘The last thing I said to the boys was, I want a (premiership) ring,’ Fifita said via News Corp.
‘I want to rock up to Gal’s (former captain Paul Gallen) house with a ring and tease him that I’ve got two and he’s got one. That’s the goal.’
The hugely popular 33-year-old rejected a heartfelt gesture from coach Craig Fitzgibbon who offered him a starting front-row jersey for his final home game against the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
‘I know my role in this team and what works for us is that Royce (Hunt) and Braden (Hamlin-Uele) start the match before I come off the bench.
Fifita is no longer first choice but is an important mentor to the club’s younger stars
‘Those boys need the minutes more than me, so I told Fitzy (Fitzgibbon) thanks, but no thanks.’
Fifita is not yet ready to call it a day on his superb career and believes he still has a year left in him. He is open to featuring for another NRL club and didn’t rule out a return to the Tigers, while a move to the UK is also an option.
‘I reckon I’ve got another year in me somewhere else,’ Fifita said.
‘There are opportunities out there (at other clubs), to go and help my brother out overseas and also in the NRL.
He says he wants a second premiership so he can taunt club legend Paul Gallen
‘But at this point in time, I think it’s time for me to move on from the Sharks with the young ones coming through.
‘I can’t do it to them – they mean so much to me. I’ve helped them grow and they’re ready to play. I don’t want to be in their way.
‘I sat with Gal on the weekend and he said no matter what, you’re still going to go down as a legend of this club.
‘To hear that from our club legend, I was quite emotional.’