Fittler opens up on Blues decision, bewildered Joey makes replacement call

Brad Fittler has broken his silence on his decision to walk away from the NSW coaching job, revealing the changing nature of the role didn’t marry up with his vision for it.

Fittler was offered the chance to coach the Blues again in 2024 after compiling a 9-9 overall record during his six-year tenure, including three series wins at a 50 per cent strike rate. The job was a full-time position during that period, allowing Fittler to embark on a raft of community programs, such as the Hogs for the Homeless ride and Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets charities.

However, Fittler opted to walk away after NSW Rugby League decided to streamline the role to just coaching the Blues.

“The board and Dave [NSWRL CEO David Trodden] picked a direction and I respect what they’re doing,” Fittler told this masthead.

“It just didn’t marry with how I thought I could best do the job. It was all very polite and respectful, I certainly wish them well going forward. What they were asking and what I was asking didn’t marry. There was an opportunity there, but it didn’t suit me in the best way I thought I could do the job.

“They had a different vision for how the coach would look, going forward.

Brad Fittler has spoken after his departure from the Blues.Credit: Getty Images

“I think they will concentrate on the job of just coaching the team. You would have to ask them why they are going in that direction. That’s not for me to answer.”

As part of his pitch to earn a new contract, Fittler sought to freshen up his support staff. The plan was to involve NSW’s most successful coach, Phil Gould, as well as former mentor Laurie Daley. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was also keen to reprise his game-day assistant role, as was the case in game three this year. Whether the board was concerned about the involvement of the polarising Gould is a question Fittler can’t answer.

“You would have to ask them that,” Fittler said. “It would have been great, Laurie Daley was going to assist. Having Gus [Gould] back, I thought was a great idea. Ivan, we spoke about him doing a similar role to last year.

“I thought it was a pretty good team. I just wanted the players to meet them, a lot of them wouldn’t know Laurie or Gus either. In saying that, the staff that we had there for six years did a great job. It all comes to an end.”

Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns.Credit: Getty

Cleary, Canberra’s Ricky Stuart and Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy will all be considered for the Blues role, if they want the job, after NSWRL chairman Paul Conlon said on Friday his board would consider full-time NRL coaches.

At least one NSWRL director expressed reservations about an NRL coach juggling club and state commitments.

“There’s certainly nothing off the table,” Conlon said. “When they brought in that rule, that was some years ago, and the reason why they introduced that was because the clubs had indicated they didn’t want their full-time coaches involved in Origin. That is an understandable position to take. There would be a lot of clubs who are still of that view.

“But that is not going to prevent us from going to a full-time coach if we think that person will be absolutely ideal for our present circumstances.”

NSWRL fielded up to 10 expressions of interest in the 24 hours after Fittler’s decision.

Fittler said he had “no regrets” about his tenure and felt he had left the post in a better state than when he inherited it.

“I totally loved it, you learn a lot about yourself,” he said. “You get to see first hand what rugby league is doing in NSW, which is something I’ve done since I was a kid.

“I got to coach some really good players. The way it ended was disappointing, but not everyone gets the grand finish. It is what it is. I think the place, with myself and the coaching staff we had over time and the players [we used], NSW is in a better spot than it was when I got in there.”

‘It’s a great battle, a great privilege and I hope they get as much out of it as I did.’

Brad Fittler

Andrew Johns, Fittler’s former assistant, believes the Blues erred in not striking an extension deal with his former Blues teammate and long-time Nine colleague.

“I was blown away. I was so surprised and shocked,” Johns said on Immortal Behaviour. “I think he’s done an absolutely sensational job and his legacy will be there forever. Years in the future we’ll look back and realise what a great job he’s done.”

Johns, who predicted Stuart would claim the vacant role – “he’s at $1.01” – ruled himself out of the running.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.Credit: Getty

“I couldn’t do it,” Johns said. “Everyone knows how invested and how emotional I get. I couldn’t do it for my own health, I couldn’t handle it. I know I couldn’t handle it, being honest with myself, and it wouldn’t be fair on people around me. But it would be entertaining. Win, lose or draw, it would be entertaining.”

Stuart had two previous stints coaching the Blues, in 2005 and 2011-12.

Fittler took over after an unprecedented era of Queensland dominance, which resulted in the Maroons winning 11 series in 12 years. Fittler’s tenure got off to a winning start before losing three of the past four series.

Asked if the criticism wore him down, Fittler said: “No, I’m glad the media paid attention to it.

“That’s what drives State of Origin. It shows a lot about what NSW is about, why it can be tricky to win. At the end of the day, I appreciate people taking interest in it.

“Regardless of whether they are writing good or bad, it means people want to read about it. While that is happening, State of Origin will always be strong, which is incredibly important to our game.”

The Fittler era started off spectacularly after he blooded 11 rookies in his first game.

“I don’t think we had a choice,” he said. “I was really happy I got to coach a lot of those blokes. Outside of that, I would have only known them as a commentator or interviewing them.

“I got to know a lot of those blokes first hand and it was a real privilege.”

with Adam Pengilly

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