NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley never told Andrew Fifita of aborted plans to move him to the bench

CONFUSION reigned in NSW Origin camp with revelations coach Laurie Daley never told Andrew Fifita of aborted plans to move him to the bench.

Reports of Fifita blowing up were wide of the mark. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

ANDREW Fifita was never told by NSW coach Laurie Daley he would start from the interchange bench in last week’s decider — adding yet another twist to the ugly fallout of the Blues series loss.

Despite fellow NSW prop David Klemmer being informed by Daley he would be starting in the biggest game in Origin history, Fifita only learned of his intended relegation after last Wednesday’s Origin III defeat.

Surprised at the level of angst directed at Fifita, The Daily Telegraph understands Daley personally phoned the premiership-winning Cronulla prop on Monday to explain why he ultimately aborted the plan to start Klemmer.

Just why Daley changed his mind and kept Klemmer on the bench remains a question for every Blues fan.

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Reports of Fifita blowing up were wide of the mark. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

NSW adviser Peter Sterling confirmed on Triple M last Monday night that it was always the Blues game plan to start Canterbury’s Klemmer ahead of Fifita — a tactic which also had reached the Maroons camp, who had prepared for the late switch.

This led to speculation that Fifita had taken umbrage with Daley — however, it can now be revealed, the Test prop was never spoken too about the late positional change.

The NSWRL told The Telegraph that Daley is planning to provide a media statement in coming days about the Fifita-Klemmer issue and additionally, how Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson’s managed to spend their day off in camp at a pub in Lennox Head.

Ironically, Fifita was benched by his own coach, Cronulla’s Shane Flanagan, shortly before the Sharks clash with the Gold Coast Titans last Saturday night.

Flanagan said that even if Daley had approached Fifita about starting from the bench, he would’ve accepted the decision.

“I started Andrew off the bench on Saturday and there were no problems there,’’ Flanagan said. “I told him ‘he’s off the bench, that’s the way it is’, and he gets on with it.

“Every player wants to play big minutes, they’d all prefer to start, but they understand it’s all for a reason.

“I would have been surprised if that was the case (with Daley), 100 per cent, especially if Laurie had come to him and said this is the reason I’m doing it.

“Whether Andrew agreed or disagreed, he would have got on board and just run with it.

“I think he was like many others and just didn’t get into the game. For NSW to win, everyone needed to play well, not just Andrew — you needed a sensational 17 to win up there.

“We’re just glad Origin is over.’’

Originally published as NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley never told Andrew Fifita of aborted plans to move him to the bench