Andrew Fifita has no regrets about supporting Kieran Loveridge, but understands outrage

Fifita was recently handed a consorting notice by police, given his long-time association with Loveridge, but it was his decision to write "F.K.L" (a tribute to Loveridge) on his strapping during Sharks matches that resulted in Fifita being hit with a barrage of abuse for his insensitive gesture.

"At the end of the day, the [NRL] integrity [unit] know about it," Fifita said after his side booked a ticket to the grand final with a comfortable victory over the Cowboys on Friday night.

"From my belief, and everyone knows the story of my friendship, and my family know what it meant. I have no regrets about that. I know it was wrong from a public's [perspective] looking inside. I couldn't speak about it [at the time]. I'm pretty positive and upbeat about it."

Loveridge, who is serving a minimum of 10 years for manslaughter for his infamous one-punch attack that led to the death of Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross in 2012, has long been friends with Fifita having grown up in similar surroundings.

Fifita maintains his loyalty to Loveridge, and despite little public sympathy for the convicted criminal, the NSW Origin forward hasn't abandoned his childhood friend and insists his gestures were only meant to lift his spirits during his sentence.

"I was helping out a mate," Fifita said.

"That's all that matters. He wasn't doing too good at the time. I gave him the boost that he really needs. I know he is doing well."

On Friday night, as Fifita continued his impressive season to lead the Sharks to the premiership decider, there was nothing on his wrists but black strapping. And unlike his previous two matches, there was also no abuse from a parochial home crowd at Allianz Stadium.

However, in the final round of the season in Melbourne and on the opening week of the finals in the nation's capital, it was a completely different story for the controversial figure, who was booed and abused by outraged away fans.

"When we went to Melbourne everyone saw how aggressive they were towards me," he said.

"I love that stuff. We got to Canberra and I copped it all game. I ended up getting the last laugh. We have a job to do. It's going to be a massive atmosphere, especially in Sydney with a Sydney team getting in. We're just hoping everyone gets behind the Sharks.

I was helping out a mate. That's all that matters. He wasn't doing too good at the time. I gave him the boost that he really needs. I know he is doing well.

"There has been a lot of talk. It never distracted me once. I never felt the crap the media were throwing at me. I was happy days. I was in semi-final football and we progressed each day of the week. We played Canberra, we got through. We had a job to do against the Cowboys, all this good work has made us get through to the grand final."

While Fifita has been gagged by the club since it came to light, it hasn't deterred him from getting out and resuming his normal daily duties.

"Not once," he said.

"I knew the media was out the front. But it didn't stop me once. I knew I never done [sic] wrong. I'm a loyal mate and that's all that matters. I didn't feel trapped once. I've learnt from the past. I was pretty positive about it."

And positive he also is about Cronulla's chances of breaking the club's long-standing premiership drought, admitting the prospect of doing what no other Sharks team has done before has made it all the more special.

"I want to make history," Fifita said.

"To be a chance, and an opportunity to be in a grand final and be the first ever Cronulla Sharks team to win it, it speaks for itself. We've been given the opportunity, and if the boys prepare well we will take it with both hands.

"It hasn't sunk in. We've been building this culture for five years. It's unbelievable. Every childhood dream is to play in a grand final. I'll take it with both hands. I can't wait.