Fifita saga

Okay I'm going to break the ice as I know everyone is thinking about it (and probably talking about it in the cupboard). At the risk of alienating myself from the site I love I am going out on a limb here. Not just for Fifita but also for semi. If we look at the Fifita scenario from what I understand he was mates with Loveridge and has supported him as such. Now I cannot comprehend what it must be like for a parent to lose their child to such a cowardly act but.... I have in a past life worked as a Gaol psychologist and trust me those who have been convicted of lengthy sentences through stupidity ( drink driving deaths etc) that have had not been in the system do it pretty tough and from my experience live every day through the hell of taking someone's life. Again I am not condoning loveridges actions or by any means diminishing the still living victims grief of going through every day without their son, brother friend... I myself would struggle with this grief. However, if I look at the other side of the equation and if I had a close friend do something so stupid and killed someone I would also be worried about his welfare and mental health. This I suppose is what I'm getting at... I won't sit on the fence and am happy to stand by my thoughts.... I don't believe that Fifita should be banned for supporting a friend, regardless of the media focus on the particular crime. That is my understanding of the situation and if I am wrong on what's happened am happy to be told so.... Factually. I'll save some the time of hypotheticals regarding more intentional heinous crimes such as sexual assault or child sex crimes... No I would not support a friend if they committed this.Greenbergs stand on this stuff which includes semi is ridiculous. It is a case of a CEO wanting to put something out there because he is under public pressure. Semi was selected for the prime ministers XI two weeks ago. Again a case where no actual criminal charge is lodged but Greenberg wants a statement. How quickly we forget the past indiscretions of the current team.... Boyd Thaiday Thurston etc etcDangerous precedent

The thing with Kieran Loveridge is that he had a history of violent assaults and on the night he killed that poor young kid he was walking down the street punching people left right and centre. His lawyer then had the gaul to try to defend this try hard thug saying that he had grown up in a hard environment. I sincerely hope he rots in jail but I can sympathise with Fifita still being friends with him, especially if he has known him for a long time. To put the initials F.K.L. which stood for "Free Kieran Loveridge" on his arm during a nationally televised game was completely disrespectful to the game, the law, and those that new and loved that young kid that died.

I am all for supporting mates privately, but not publicly for an idiot who basically killed a young man in cold blood. I have no sympathy for Fifita for doing that and he does deserve what is happening to him currently. I think Fifita is a great player and I hope he returns to the Kangaroos in the future but he needs to learn that, that kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

"He was a try-scoring machine, but fuck his defence was deplorable. Just imagine where Semi would be sitting on this list is he'd have stayed in League..."

Replies

Tin Tim October 6, 2016 at 6:18am

Yes 100% correct, I'm under the understanding he coached they guy in his younger years and have remained friends well before this incident. I too would support a friend, and of coarse I wouldn't if it involved a child or domestic abuse. He was bragging about this, it's the media who place it in the newspapers. Don't agree with the writing of his initials on his wrist, I think that was a f$&k you statement. But I can't see why he can't visit a friend that's done the wrong thing. Drug dealer, different, I can see the difference!!
Mathew Clarke October 6, 2016 at 7:41am

The thing with Kieran Loveridge is that he had a history of violent assaults and on the night he killed that poor young kid he was walking down the street punching people left right and centre. His lawyer then had the gaul to try to defend this try hard thug saying that he had grown up in a hard environment. I sincerely hope he rots in jail but I can sympathise with Fifita still being friends with him, especially if he has known him for a long time. To put the initials F.K.L. which stood for "Free Kieran Loveridge" on his arm during a nationally televised game was completely disrespectful to the game, the law, and those that new and loved that young kid that died.

I am all for supporting mates privately, but not publicly for an idiot who basically killed a young man in cold blood. I have no sympathy for Fifita for doing that and he does deserve what is happening to him currently. I think Fifita is a great player and I hope he returns to the Kangaroos in the future but he needs to learn that, that kind of behaviour is unacceptable.
- Tom Mus > Mathew Clarke October 6, 2016 at 8:09am
  
  Well said.
sixtiesboy October 6, 2016 at 8:07am

Show all the support you want privately. Don't use the game and your exposure in it to make what is akin to a public statement. When you do so, wearing the jersey of your club and the badge of the NRL, you draw all stakeholders into your public stance. The NRL must be seen to impose a consequence. It may (or at least should) serve as a lesson to others. Anyone who is selected as an Australian player is receiving the highest honour/endorsement that the game can bestow. As such, they are role models and the very public face of the game. Whether they see themselves in that regard is not relevant, it's how their sport, their employer and the public view their status.
- Tin Tim > sixtiesboy October 6, 2016 at 8:16am
  
  This is only a question & please don't think that thug deserves anything other than jail. But do you think we would have know about his Fafita visit if the Telly wouldn't have made it back page news?
- Traditional Croissant > sixtiesboy October 6, 2016 at 1:00pm
  
  Well said sixties - you've summed up the issue perfectly.
  
  Hopefully people that "don't get it" read your summary.
- Bateau Bay Eel > sixtiesboy October 6, 2016 at 5:37pm
  
  Well said, full stop.
brad October 6, 2016 at 8:54am

Every one is free to have an opinion, however, Mr Fifita you are not free of the consequences of that opinion. I believe Fifita's opinion has cost him the Clive Churchill medal and now a kangaroo Jersey. It is my opinion that Semi has been dealt a rougher hand. I know some women put up with domestic violence in silence. I have not met many women that would tolerate being kicked in the guts while pregnant and only make the allegations after the relationship breaks down. I am married to a strong women that would not tolerate domestic violence at any time, if she was pregnant I have no doubt I would be the one needing protection.
JJ - The EEL October 6, 2016 at 8:57am

Well written piece BB and I understand where you are coming from. I have seen several 1st graders who visit friends / relatives regularly in goal. Russell Packer also had football staff visit him regularly when he was goal.

As noted Fifita knows Loveridge well from their days growing up in Doonside and I guess have an established friendship. The crime Loveridge was convicted of is of the most serious nature and there is no place for that behaviour in today's society it is unacceptable.

I don't know Fifta personally to comment to much, but one would have to suggest that he is extremely poorly managed and whilst it is Fifita who wore the arm band with the initials on it personally I think his manager and those around him have to share the burden of his stupidity as well. I mean wouldn't those close to him have asked him what those initials stood for and common sense would of said "Hey mate I get your his friend but that is in poor taste and shouldn't be done"
Outrunna October 6, 2016 at 9:29am

The whole decision is crap. How is it ok for Semi to play for the Prime Ministers XI and not for Australia