Imposing Cronulla recruit Andrew Fifita can't wait for the NRL season to start so he can show Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens and Tigers fans exactly what they're missing out on.
Fifita was one of the victims of the Tigers' pursuit of New Zealand international Adam Blair last year, as he was offloaded along with veteran prop Bryce Gibbs to the Sharks to make way for Blair's salary.
The decision didn't sit well with Gibbs and Fifita at the time, but the 22-year-old is delighted in his new surrounds in the Shire and desperate to repay the Sharks for the faith shown in him by helping defeat the Tigers on their home turf in round one on March4.
Intensifying Fifita's motivation is Sheens' decision to omit the Indigenous All Stars representative during the club's finals run last year.
''Yeah [I have a point to prove],'' Fifita said yesterday.
''Not playing the last few rounds and all that. I just want to get out there in front of their crowd - that's going to be the biggest thing - and represent the club.
''I'm loving the Sharks ... I can't wait to get out there and show [the Tigers] what they're missing out on.
''They chose better players last year towards the end of last year for their semi-finals teams and I guess I wasn't one of them.
''I'm going to show them how good I can possibly be.
''I always loved [Tigers home ground] Leichhardt [Oval] - it was my favourite field. To play first round there ... when I got the call, I was just excited.
''It made me strive even harder through pre-season, just thinking about round one.''
But Fifita played down talk he would target Blair in the season-opening clash, moving away from comments last year when he said he challenged the former Melbourne star to run at him when they clashed on the field.
''Everyone's [talking] about this blow up with Adam Blair,'' he said.
''I don't mind the bloke ... but football is football. My job is [defending] the middle, whoever comes through the middle that's what is going to happen.''
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