ANDREW Fifita has been taken to task over a bizarre press conference this week, and his impending decision to ditch NSW in favour of representing Tonga.

Fifita was coy when fronting the media on Tuesday and wouldn’t say one way or the other whether he would make himself available for the Blues this year or not.

Instead, he directed journalists to listen to a podcast he had recorded, where he supposedly reveals his decision over his immediate allegiance.

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Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper was furious at the showcasing act from the Cronulla big-man, telling NRL 360 he couldn’t voice his opinion because of the choice of language he would use and the prime time television slot.

But he is confident Fifita will choose to turn his back on the Blues.

Hooper says Fifita is unlikely to get picked by NSW coach Brad Fittler anyway, and claims the prop is disrespecting the Origin jersey with his parading.

“In terms of his form there’s half a dozen NSW forwards who are in front of him at the moment,” Hooper said.

“I think the way Andrew Fifita is behaving there ... as much as he might think he’s paying the Tongan jersey a great deal of respect — and he is — it’s the ultimate insul to the NSW Blues jumper.”

NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent agreed the press conference was poor form from Fifita.

Kent also believes Fifita wouldn’t be selected for Origin even if he did pledge his allegiance to his state.

“I think he’s read that Brad Fittler doesn’t have him in his starting 17 at the moment, and therefor has gone early and pledged himself to Tonga,” Kent said.

Fifita will need to make a decision on his representative future before the first Origin game in June.

If he isn’t selected for NSW, he is likely to represent Tonga in the mid-season Test.