The Roar has heard reports that Cronulla’s NSW Origin forward Andrew Fifita – who is currently serving a suspension from the NRL – is about to walk away from his NRL contract, to play for Tonga at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

The Roar spoke with the Sharks this morning, and Andrew and his brother David, also serving a suspension, were both present at training.

When questioned on Triple M on Friday morning, Sharks captain Paul Gallen said that the rumour was new information to him.

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“I’d imagine if that was true the club would have something to say about it. If he’s under contract they would want some sort of compensation if they were ever going to let him go,” Gallen said.

The Roar understands that Fifita, who has had a rocky couple of years in the NRL following a number of controversial incidents – including the latest one at a junior rugby league game for which he was publicly castigated and suspended – wants to put himself in the ‘shop window’ to pick up a lucrative rugby contract in Europe.

What better way to do that than to turn out for his native Tonga at the World Cup.

It’s believed that Tonga will play Fifita at 12 and transition him in a similar way to recent NRL converts Ben Te’o and Sam Burgess.

Fifita played rugby as a junior, and also flirted with the idea of a code switch in 2013.

In the end, Fifita had to remain with the Sharks after signing a deal to go to the Canterbury Bulldogs that was eventually torn up.



At the time of the contract being torn up, Fifita said he wished he had taken up the offer to play the 15-man game.

“If I could go back now, I wish I chose rugby and then I wouldn’t be getting all the sh*t I’ve been catching now,” Fifita said early last year.

The Roar has heard reports a deal is currently being worked on. Watch this space for more updates.