Andrew Fifita believes his reputation has seen him targeted by referees since the NRL’s increased focus on the play the ball.
The NRL announced before the 2018 season the onus would be on players to rake their foot over the ball in an attempt to clean up the play the ball which had become a source of frustration for players, coaches and fans alike.
Fifita has earned the ire of rival fans in previous seasons by using his giant 126-kilogram frame to win quick play the balls for his team, further benefited by simply rolling the ball back through his legs to give Cronulla an even greater advantage through the speed of his play the ball.
But the 28-year-old said the rule changes had forced him to alter his play the ball style.
“I had a reputation and I know I was targeted,” Fifita said.
“I got pinged here in one scrimmage match four times or something. Just because I purely forgot about the foot on the ball [rule change]. I kind of got it through the trials and I just changed my way of getting up.
“It is what it is, it’s done now but I feel like there’s plenty of other players out there that do it. I feel like if I did it it’d be a penalty straight away. I guess that’s sort of harsh for myself because I’m known as a person that always did it.
“They had a rule about falling down after the play the ball. I’ve seen so many in our games and several other games where they fall down and it’s meant to be a penalty to the opposite team but nothing’s happened.
“I feel like there was one really harsh [penalty against me] on the weekend. And that’s just my thoughts because we were winning the penalty count six-nil.
“Down near our line and I was just stealing a bit more time. And I got harshly done by a holding down penalty. Really after a dominant tackle I felt like it was a bit harsh but I see if we’re six-nil up [in the penalty count] they’ve got to give a penalty someway somehow.”
The Sharks host Melbourne on Friday night looking to build on their first win of the season over Parramatta. They will need to overcome their poor home form having won only five of their last 13 games at Shark Park.
An intense on-field rivalry has built up between the clubs in recent years thanks in part to the number of State of Origin representatives in opposing sides, highlighted by Cronulla’s grand final win in 2016.
But while many outsiders see Sharks-Storm clashes as one of the better recent rivalries in the competition, Fifita believes Melbourne aren’t as important as Cronulla’s derby matches with St George Illawarra.
“Melbourne are competitors and always have been as long as I’ve been playing. They’re going to be a really quality team especially with the pack they’ve got. They’re not coming here to lose. We’re going to be ready to play, this is our home. Our pack will be ready for the ambush that’s coming,” he said.
“To be honest I feel like our Dragons rivalry is massive for us. Especially being in the shire, I think it’s one of the biggest things to come out of this stadium.
“I just feel like the Dragons would be our main rivalry game. People have been throwing up the Cowboys and Melbourne because we verse them so many times a year now. But in saying that I just love playing tough games and if you’re looking at a tough game and a tough team this is up there with the best.”
