Luke Lewis has changed his tune and says he'll take Andrew Fifita warts and all if the firebrand prop's uncontrolled aggression leads Cronulla to a second NRL title in three seasons.
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"A hundred per cent, if it gets us to a premiership," Lewis said on Tuesday night.
Fifita's expletive-laden spray towards Cronulla's coaching box after he scored the match-winning try over North Queensland on Saturday has been the talking point of the league.
Even his teammate Lewis, who controversially won the Clive Churchill Medal ahead of Fifita after Cronulla's drought-breaking grand final win in 2016, weighed in.
Lewis said Fifita's behaviour was a "not a good look" for the Sharks and a bad look for the game.
Three days on, and after the dust has settled, Lewis believed Fifita's passion could work in the Sharks' favour, so long as coach Shane Flanagan uses the Tongan Test star in Cronulla's favour.
"I'd probably lean towards quality, not quantity," Lewis said on Fox Sports' NRL 360 program when asked if Fifita should be used for 80 minutes or as an impact player.
"Don't worry about giving Andrew the ball and letting Andrew run his 250 metres (a game).
"Let's say, 'Andrew, give me your 10 strongest, direct, hardest carries and get us on the front foot'."
Fifita's former NSW State of Origin teammate Josh Reynolds agrees, saying "there's nothing worse" than confronting the Sharks tearaway with a full head of steam.
Reynolds believes Sharks coach Shane Flanagan should give his ex-Wests Tigers teammate and mid-season signing Aaron Woods more game time and leave Fifita fresh for when the game's on the line.
"I've obviously come up against Andrew a few times," Reynolds said.
"Near the line, he drifts across field and you know he's coming for the halves and every time he's got the ball there, he's just going to throw you off.
"Andrew wouldn't like it but I think it would work perfect if you gave 'Woodsy' that bit more time and use him (Fifita) as the impact.
"The back end of halves, when the hookers are getting a bit tired, a bit sloppy, falling off tackles, he's going to score those (match-winning) tries every day of the week."
Fifita apologised for his vitriolic spray on Saturday night and Lewis said the Sharks had moved on.
Australian Associated Press
