Craig Fitzgibbon could also be enjoying it down however from his personal expertise Andrew Fifita suspects the Cronulla coach will likely be plotting one thing particular for the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night time.
After a decade as a Roosters assistant coach, Fitzgibbon will go face to face with Trent Robinson for the primary time when the Sharks host the Tricolours at PointsBet Stadium.
Along with finishing his teaching apprenticeship at Bondi Junction, Fitzgibbon received the Clive Churchill Medal within the Roosters’ 2002 grand-final conquer the Warriors and performed his whole consultant profession whereas on the membership.
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His Sharks expenses say Fitzgibbon is enjoying it cool, which is not any shock contemplating his amicable departure from the Roosters final 12 months was nothing like Fifita’s axing from Wests Tigers in 2011.
Fifita, although, stated that would not cease Fitzgibbon from eager to get one up on his outdated membership.
“I take it quite personally when you’re versing your old team. It is a thing. I’m not going to lie. I’m not going to downplay it,” he stated.
“For the Tigers, I always embrace it. I signed there for three years and the next thing I was getting the punt.”
Whereas initially damage, the Sharks’ 2016 premiership hero stated the Tigers letting him go proved essentially the most important second of his profession.
“The best thing was the following year I made my debut for Australia and ‘Sheensy’ (ex-Tigers coach Tim Sheens) apologised to me in his speech,” Fifita stated.
“He said ‘I’m so sorry for letting you go, I let go of the next Aussie prop’.
“So it is all the time at the back of your thoughts however it’s a recreation of footy on the finish of the day.”
The Roosters clash isn’t only a milestone for Fitzgibbon, with Fifita joining Sharks legends like Paul Gallen, Andrew Ettingshausen, David Peachey, Steve Rogers, Greg Pierce and current captain Wade Graham as only the 10th player to enter the club’s 200-game club.
The former State of Origin, Australia and Tonga Test prop feared he’d never make it after fracturing his larynx and being placed into an induced coma following a match against Newcastle last year.
Typically, though, Fifita is more intent on helping Fitzgibbon gain bragging rights over the Roosters.
“I requested how Fitzy was going and he stated he was loving it,” the 32-year-old stated.
“He is a part of the Cronulla staff, he is excited for the problem and I do know he has the utmost respect for what that membership has achieved for him as an individual and his teaching workers. He is coached over there for the final 10 years.
“But I know deep down we’ll be in there trying to get the win for him. That’s for us. We acknowledge that.”