Returning Roo: Andrew Fifita has "paid his dues" and warrants selection, says Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith. Credit:Getty Images "I ran out on to the field – I love Leichhardt, it's one of my all-time favourite fields to play at – I loved playing there when I was at the Tigers [but] to come out of the sheds and see that, it brought me back to when I was coming out of [the club]. "I feel for Woodsy, but I also know they'll want to go out with a bang. You saw it with Michael Ennis with us last year when he was [retiring]. Those boys won't give in and they will want to play finals football and try to take it all the way – and use that as motivation." The Tigers and police are investigating the incident which saw a spectator hurl an object in the vicinity of players as they shook hands shortly after the Sharks won a controversial clash 22-16. Fifita marched in the direction of the alleged culprit and dished out his own spray before being led away.



"I said to him, 'You're a disgrace to that jersey' and 'You can't call yourself a loyal fan by throwing your beers at your own players'," Fifita said. "It's not just the team buying into the culture, it's the fans as well.



"If you're a fan, you're a fan of the club and team. It doesn't matter how hard they're doing it at the time or how bad they're going, you get around the boys and be there for them.

"For a fan to throw a full can, dead centre, trying to intentionally hit us ... if that can hit one of us what if something really bad happened?



"I've got a family to go home to, friends to meet, and it's not called for. If you're a fan, sit back, relax, enjoy the footy. I know they wear their heart on their sleeve sometimes, but the main thing is to be happy about it." Fifita was packing his bags to head into camp with Tonga for this Saturday's Pacific Test extravaganza when told he would instead be linking with the Kangaroos in Canberra for Friday night's blockbuster against New Zealand. It comes six months after the Australian Rugby League Commission deemed him ineligible for Mal Meninga's Four Nations squad due his public support of one-punch convicted killer Kieran Loveridge. Meninga sat down with Fifita on Sunday to explain the Kangaroos culture he was trying to nurture after Woods and Shannon Boyd were forced to withdraw through injury. "We played against Cronulla this year already and I've seen a change in his persona on the field, to be honest," Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith said. "All he was worried about was doing his job for the team.

"I just think his focus was carrying the ball strong, which is his best asset, and getting his job done in defence. He wasn't worried about sledging or anything else outside of what he needed to do. "He's paid his dues now and is playing exceptional football again this season and warrants selection." Fifita revealed he didn't watch any of the Kangaroos' Four Nations campaign as he embarked on a mental health speaking tour and worried about his own wellbeing. The 27-year-old, whose wife is expecting their third child, joked he would have been just as happy with Tonga's accommodation at Rooty Hill rather than the five-star luxury afforded to the Kangaroos in Canberra. And he thought the chance to wear the green and gold might have passed him by.

Loading "At the lowest point? Yeah, maybe. But the way things change and the things you learn mentally, I was trying to stay positive," he said. "In saying that I'm quite happy in my life right now, what I do on the field and what I do off the field. The gratitude is that Kangaroos jersey and it shows little things are paying off on the field."