Brad Fittler walks away from Blues after feud over length of extension

The NSW Rugby League is reluctant to parachute a full-time NRL coach into the vacant State of Origin role after Brad Fittler walked away from the Blues job following a breakdown in talks over the length of an extension.

Fittler baulked at a 12-month contract offer and told the NSWRL on Thursday he no longer wanted to be considered for the position.

The coach had been lobbying for a two-year deal to take him through until the end of the 2025 series, but the board insisted they would only offer a contract for next year after losing to Billy Slater’s Queensland in the last two seasons.

According to NSWRL sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential talks, the terms of a new deal caused a major fracture between the board and Fittler, who had proposed the Blues’ most successful coach, Phil Gould, return alongside him in an official capacity.

On Wednesday, the NSWRL board decided to delay a decision on Fittler’s future after the coach presented his plan to overhaul his support staff only five days earlier.

The NSWRL had also wanted to streamline Fittler’s role, even after his chief adviser, Greg Alexander, assistant coach Paul McGregor and playing legends Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus all stood down last week.

Brad Fittler has walked away after six years in charge of the Blues.Credit: Getty Images

NSWRL sources who were not authorised to speak publicly said their preference remains for a replacement to come from outside the full-time NRL coaching ranks, making it harder for Canberra’s Ricky Stuart or Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy to become contenders, if they wanted the job.

NSW’s former coach Laurie Daley, who broke Queensland’s eight-year dynasty in 2014, was being lined up to be on Fittler’s support staff before Fittler stood down. Daley retains support from the country rugby league directors on the NSWRL. NRL assistants Michael Maguire (Raiders) and McGregor (Cowboys) could also be considered.

Fittler will finish as NSW’s second most successful coach behind Gould, having won three of six series since 2018.

But sobering losses to the Maroons in 2022 and 2023, in particular this year when he selected and dropped Tevita Pangai jnr and Nicho Hynes after game one and then pitched hooker Damien Cook into the centres to replace the injured Tom Trbojevic during game two, prompted the NSWRL board to consider only a 12-month extension.

Dejected Blues players after losing this year’s series at Suncorp Stadium.Credit: Getty

Only hours before Fittler’s shock decision, the Queensland Rugby League announced Slater had signed a three-year extension, a significant show of faith in the man who has turned the Maroons’ fortunes around despite no previous head coaching experience.

Fittler contributed just one line to a NSWRL media release on Thursday: “I loved doing the job and I will always love NSW”.

But his decision will now send the Blues’ coaching search back to square one.

“The board understands and respects his decision,” NSWRL chairman Paul Conlon said. “‘Freddy’ [Fittler] was a legend as a player and returned to coach the team at a time when his state needed him.

“He enjoyed immediate success and his series win in 2021, which included record scorelines in Townsville and Brisbane, will go down in NSW Blues history.

“He also contributed through other programs including his Hogs motorcycle rides in regional NSW which played a big part in uniting the state. He holds a special place in NSW Rugby League history.”

The Blues will now take coaching expressions of interest and hope to decide on the new boss in the weeks after the NRL grand final.

There are no such concerns north of the border with Slater and QRL boss Ben Ikin thrashing out a long-term extension.

“It’s an incredible honour to be the Queensland coach. I’m excited about the journey that this current group of players and staff have embarked upon,” Slater said.

“I believe they are only getting started. From the very beginning, I was drawn to this role because I deeply understand the importance of this team to all Queenslanders.

“I’m a proud Queenslander and this team means a lot to me. It has been a massive part of my life and I’m extremely grateful to get the opportunity to help other people, not only fulfil their dream, but inspire our state.”

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