Cronulla prop gets the backing of those closest to him after stellar season.
At jut 23 years of age Andrew Fifita has the rugby league world at his feet.
After starring for the Cronulla Sharks this season the powerfully built prop should be on the Kangaroo selectors short-list for the World Cup later this year.
Teammate at the Sharks Jeff Robson says Fifita has been a revelation this season and said higher honors should be coming his way.
“He’s been outstanding, his carries, his workrate, he’s been a real pleasure to play alongside this year,” Robson said.
“He looked good in Origin and you would be hard pressed to find many props that have played better than him this season.
“With the World Cup coming up I can’t see how he won’t make the squad and he would thoroughly deserve it.”
After being let go by the Wests Tigers in 2011, Fifita has found a home in the form of the Sharks where he has not just been one of their best forwards but also their top-try scorer, an almost unheard of feat in the modern game.
After playing in all three State of Origin games in 2013 and not looking out of place at the highest level of competition available to a rugby league player, he is rated as better than a darkhorse to make the trip to the UK.
Robson and the Sharks were left to wonder what might have been from their 2013 season after being beaten in a thrilling semi-final against the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night.
The halfback said with the ASADA investigation hanging over the club and the fashion in which they exited the finals, meant it was a tough season, but insisted it would make them stronger in the long run.
“But we couldn’t have done any more in this game to win. A couple of decisions that could have gone our way didn’t,” he said.
“But that’s rugby league. We got one that went our way against the Cowboys last week so it is what it is.
“But we’ll be stronger and better for all this experience next year.”
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