NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has refused to be drawn on accusations he is mishandling the Andrew Fifita case, despite being branded a “ning nong” who is “out of his depth”.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph last night, an NRL spokesperson said Greenberg would not be responding to comments made by heavyweight Fifita supporters — Sydney radio talkback host Alan Jones and former Labor leader Mark Latham.
During an interview with the Cronulla prop on his Sky News program, Jones and Co, the 2GB breakfast star described Greenberg as “out of his depth” and threatened to go “toe to toe” with the NRL boss should he attempt to remove the 27-year-old from the game.
Latham also branded Greenberg and his team “ning nongs”, telling Fifita: “You’re more important to the NRL than the idiots in the bunker and down there at Moore Park. You’re the man they love.”
The Jones attack comes only days after Fifita, under fire for publicly supporting convicted killer Kieran Loveridge, was banned from Australia’s Four Nations squad.
The Sharks premiership hero last month received a consorting warning from the NSW Police’s Strike Force Raptor and continues to be the subject of an ongoing NRL Integrity Unit investigation.
It is understood Integrity Unit officials are awaiting more information from NSW police on Fifita, who was also controversially overlooked for the Clive Churchill Medal despite an outstanding grand final performance.
Comments on The Daily Telegraph website yesterday were divided, with many pointing out Fifita has also previously been sidelined and fined $30,000 for threatening a referee at a junior rugby league game.
During the Tuesday night TV interview, the tattooed enforcer not only suggested he was ready to walk out on rugby league but questioned if his profile as a NRL star was behind the police consorting order.
“It’s just ... they’re trying to make a fool of myself,’’ he said. “Someone high profile.
“Why didn’t my best mate get done when we went to the jail (to visit Loveridge)? I don’t know why I just got done. There was two of us.”
A NSW Police spokesperson said yesterday they would be making no further comment on the matter.
Quizzed on how the saga had affected him, Fifita continued: “To be honest, I think it’s punishment.
“I feel like I’m on my last chance with the NRL — they all know that, I know that — (and) I’m thinking the worst at the moment.
“I’ve got one more mess up and I’m out. My contract is ripped up.
“So I’ve already approached my management team, already had talks with the CEO about going elsewhere. Different codes.
“I don’t know if my contract is going to get ripped up tomorrow, if it’s going to get ripped up in six months time.”
