Cronulla grand final hero Andrew Fifita is poised to escape with a fine rather than further suspension after the NRL issued a breach notice over his support for one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.
Fifita, his lawyer and Sharks coach Shane Flanagan met with NRL officials at Rugby League Central on Tuesday, where he was served with the breach notice. It's understood Fifita, who has five working days to respond, will be slugged $20,000 for his role in the saga.
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Fifita wore arm bands with FKL written on the strapping, which he said stood for 'For Kieran Loveridge'. Loveridge was convicted of killing Thomas Kelly in 2012.
The NRL prevented Fifita from being considered for Australia's victorious Four Nations campaign over the matter, despite the fact he was one of the form forwards of the competition. Head office took into account that penalty - including the financial rewards that would have come with representing the Kangaroos - in formulating its final sanction.
The issue has dragged on since Fairfax Media revealed Fifita had been issued a consorting notice by police in late notice. However, the NRL waited until it had received all information from police - which only happened last week - before formulating its breach notice. It's understood Fifita will not challenge the fine and is free to be part of Cronulla's premiership defence next season.
Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman said he respected the NRL wasn't able to act until it had received all of the information from police, but hoped any similar issues in the future could be dealt with more quickly.
"It's a massive sense of, I'm not sure if relief is the word, but [closure] from a welfare sense for Andrew," Gorman said. "This cloud has hung over him, the game and the club for a long time.
"As a game we have got to try to find ways to expedite these matters while making sure there is still a very fair and transparent process occurring.
![Controversial: Andrew Fifita wore wrist strapping bearing the initials of Kieran Loveridge as a show of support.](/web/20161214010824im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/d/r/6/z/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtaadu.png/1481633925733.jpg)
"... It gives us an opportunity to understand how and why we can mitigate [the lengthy time frames] in the future."
Fifita has previously stated he has "no regrets" for his support of Loveridge.
"From my belief, and everyone knows the story of my friendship, and my family know what it meant. I have no regrets about that. I know it was wrong from a public's [perspective] looking inside. I couldn't speak about it [at the time]. I'm pretty positive and upbeat about it," Fifita told Fairfax Media after Cronulla had qualified for the NRL grand final.
Loveridge, who is serving a minimum of 10 years for manslaughter for his infamous one-punch attack that led to the death of Kelly in Kings Cross in 2012, has long been friends with Fifita having grown up in similar surroundings.
Fifita maintains his loyalty to Loveridge, and despite little public sympathy for the convicted criminal, the NSW Origin forward hasn't abandoned his childhood friend and insists his gestures were only meant to lift his spirits during his sentence.
"I was helping out a mate," Fifita said. "That's all that matters. He wasn't doing too good at the time. I gave him the boost that he really needs. I know he is doing well."
Fifita was a dominant figure in the Sharks' grand final win over Cronulla, but was controversially overlooked for Clive Churchill medal honours. Had he been given the award, Fifita would have handed it to former teammate Michael Ennis for his friendship and support during difficult times.
There were suggestions Fifita wanted to quit rugby league after the snubbings, but his management denied suggestions of a cross-code switch.
"He has never wanted to leave rugby league or Cronulla," his management firm, I.Am Global, said in a statement to Fairfax Media last month.
"It was only that it appeared his contract would be ripped up that he had to consider plan B. It had nothing to do with the Clive Churchill medal or his omission from the Kangaroos squad."
Cronulla continue to be in the headlines for the wrong reasons following the grand final triumph. Former Dally M medallist Ben Barba was released from the club after testing positive to cocaine. Barba has returned from a stint in a Thai rehab clinic to deal with personal issues, although it's unclear whether he will return to the Sharks or the game.
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