RL fans confused on Fifita issue: Daley

NSW coach Laurie Daley believes rugby league fans are confused over the controversial non-selection of Andrew Fifita for Australia’s Four Nations tour.

Fifita was omitted from the Kangaroos squad last month after failing to meet the ARL Commission’s off-field standards, including his support of one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.

Despite his support being revealed in August, the NRL integrity unit is still waiting on police information before making a final decision on the matter.

“Everyone’s a little bit confused about the process, rather than what the outcome has been,” Blues coach Laurie Daley said at a NSW Indigenous team camp on Wednesday.

“I don’t think anyone’s got any issues if it’s behavioural issues for a selected player. But when you don’t really know a lot about what’s going on, it keeps everyone in the dark.”

Daley stopped short of saying Cronulla’s grand final hero had been treated unfairly, but was at pains to understand the reasoning behind Fifita’s banishment from the Kangaroos.

He said the front-rower remains in his plans for next year’s Origin series, provided he is performing on and off the playing field.

“If they’re bigger than what’s happening, everyone should be aware of it. But at this stage, most people are in the dark,” he said.

“I’m happy to support whatever discipline is made. You’d just like to know the process and how they get to that outcome.

“In terms of how we go about it, we just make sure that whoever’s available, we’ll select them if everything else is going well for them on and off the field.”

An NRL spokesman said CEO Todd Greenberg explained last month that Fifita had not met the higher standards demanded of Kangaroos representatives.

This included an incident with a junior official last year that resulted in an eight-week ban.

“We are currently awaiting information from the police on Andrew before we make a final determination. We hope to finalise the matter soon,” an NRL spokesman said.

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