Andrew Fifita courtesy of wiki.commons.org
It's one of the strangest stories in an already scandal-plagued National Rugby League season so far. One of the game's brightest stars, Cronulla and NSW Origin Prop Andrew Fifita has been revealed to have played in seven televised games sporting wrist-strapping with the letters "F.K.L" written on it; what is believed to stand for "Free Kieran Loveridge," the man responsible for the high-profile one-punch killing of Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross in 2012.Although separated by five years it is believed the pair know each other from their days playing rugby league in western Sydney where Fifita is thought to have coached Loveridge. Fifita has also been served with a warning for consorting with criminals by the NSW police after he made several visits to Loveridge in Cessnock prison. Loveridge is alleged to have links to the Lone Wolfs bikie club and was sent to Goulburn Supermax prison for a period in 2015 being found to have had "improper relations" with 30-year-old prison guard and former iron woman Jody Marion. He was also reprimanded for his alleged role in a fight with a 31 year old inmate in which he stomped on his head.Fifita is the fourth rugby player this year to be warned for consorting with criminals. He has battled depression in the past that almost led him to take his own life. Last year Fifita was banned for six weeks and fined $30 000 for abusing a junior referee at an A-Grade park football fixture in western Sydney.After exchanging words with the referee, in which he called him "a fucking disgrace," the referee produced his phone and attempted to record the exchange prompting a violent outburst from Fifita who stormed into the roped off area and told the official to "delete that now or I'll smash your." He needed to be restrained by several people. His brother David was hit with the same penalty for his role in the incident.Despite the controversy, Fifita has been cleared to play in this week's minor premiership showdown with the Melbourne Storm.Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan, defended his prop. "Andrew hasn't been charged with anything, he's been warned for associating with these people and he knows it's not the right thing to be doing."A lot of his mates are in jail. That's the way it is. He won't desert them but he understand he can't contact them," he said.
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