In-demand NSW and Australian prop Andrew Fifita raised his asking price with a typically barnstorming display in Cronulla’s 28-22 trial loss to Wests Tigers on Saturday night.
Fifita, who is off contract at the end of the season and reportedly in the sights of NRL rivals South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters, reminded everyone why he’s the game’s most prized signature by the Sharks’ first try with a trademark fend of Adam Blair.
He also had a second try denied for offside, and laid on a try for Sam Tagataese with a right-handed flick pass in a 65 minute effort.
The Sharks, missing key men in Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Todd Carney and Beau Ryan, enjoyed the better of possession in the opening 20 minutes with several attacking raids inside the Wests Tigers quarter including halfback Jeff Robson losing the ball over the line, before picking up a jaw injury.
Fifita’s try, and an 80 metre intercept try to rising Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks, were the only highlights in a scrappy first half that saw the scores locked at 6-all at the break.
Cronulla took a 10-6 lead when veteran winger Eric Grothe Jnr defused a 10-6 lead off a cross-field bomb by five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth in the 45th minute.
Wests Tigers’ second try came against the run of play when winger Marika Koroibete swooped on a grubber kick to race 85 metres to score. Pat Richards converted for a 12-10 lead to the visitors.
From there Wests Tigers, who were missing a host of NRL stars themselves, produced some of their trademark razzle dazzle resulting in consecutive tries to Chris Lawrence, Richards, and Keith Lulia for a 28-10 lead after 67 minutes.
Fifita then put second-rower Tagataese over before Nathan Stapleton scored from a knock-down in the dying minutes for the 28-22 scoreline.