State of Origin 2023: What went wrong for NSW Blues under Brad Fittler and how to fix it

It’s too late for Brad Fittler to save his job, but it’s not too late for the next NSW coach to come in and fix what went wrong on Freddy’s watch.

Brad Fittler’s coaching decisions raise plenty of question marks. Picture: John Appleyard

If it ain’t broke, it don’t need fixing.

Well, it is broke and the NSW Blues do need fixing.

And it should start with a complete cultural and selection overhaul led by a shake-up of the Blues backline and the banning of the boom box, while the hunt for a new coach has thrown up some left field options.

TEAM SELECTIONS START WITH TEDDY

Jack Gibson coined the phrase the “best coaches are the best recruiters”, and this is where whoever takes over from Brad Fittler next year has to stop playing favourites and just pick the best players.

I said it after game one and copped a hammering for it. But I will say it again: If Latrell Mitchell is fit he should be wearing the No.1 jumper because he is the most dangerous fullback in the game right now.

Latrell Mitchell was ruled out of Origin with a calf injury. Picture: NRL Photos

We all know there’s no chance the Blues skipper will be dropped for the dead rubber. But moving forward the issue needs to be addressed.

In respect to what should be done to win game three, Adam Reynolds should be in the No.7 jumper and Cody Walker in the No. 6.

As hard as Mitchell Moses tried, his halves partnership with Jarome Luai just didn’t work.

But a spine of Mitchell, Walker, Reynolds and Damien Cook would add an instant combination that would worry the hell out of Queensland.

Campbell Graham would be at right centre and Stephen Crichton on the left. At least you know that is a backline capable of scoring some points.

The Blues just have to get some attack in the team because the only try scored at Suncorp from Cook in broken play is just not good enough at Origin level.

Tedesco has been a champion for NSW and no one disputes that.

But he is clearly not nearly as effective as he used to be.

Just compare his series so far to the impact of Reece Walsh. It’s chalk and cheese.

And this is not an assassination on Teddy’s character.

It’s just an honest assessment that plenty in the game share, if not publicly, then certainly privately.

James Tedesco was not at his best this series. Picture: Getty

BOOM BOX DIVIDES THE TEAM

There is just no way Fittler should have allowed the boom box culture into his team camp in the first place because all it does is create another disconnect.

If Luai and his gang from the Panthers want to listen to their particular style of music they’re paid well enough to buy some bloody headphones.

But what about the players who don’t like that type of music, and it is not a part of their pre-match preparations? There is no way anyone can convince me that wouldn’t piss off at least some of the team, even if they don’t say so publicly.

Sure, it’s not the biggest deal in the world, but it’s all the little things that add up.

Former NRL playmaker Daniel Mortimer brought up another point in a social media post where he identified how Luai and Payne Haas did not link with their teammates during the national anthem.

“Don’t know why this bothers me so much but Luai and Haas once again not linked with their teammates during the anthems. Happened twice now no coincidence. At least look like you’re united! Embarrassing night to be a NSWelshman.”

Fair point.

Payne Haas and Jarome Luai not linking with teammates.

COOK TO CENTRE = NO PLAN B

It was obvious to all barring the NSW coaching staff that Cam Murray should have been the player sent out to replace the injured Tom Trbojevic.

But how in the hell Fittler thought otherwise by sending out Cook to play in the centres sums up exactly that the NSW brains trust just didn’t have their heads in the game.

Because this was either clear proof they didn’t have a Plan B or they forgot Murray was sitting on the bench.

Whatever the case, they got their pants pulled down in front of a television audience of more than three million people as a result.

The fact Murray didn’t get a minute of game time until the second half was just ridiculous. If it was a question of his fitness after carrying an injury into the game, why play him?

But if he is fit for game three surely Murray must start.

Damien Cook’s move to centre shows the Blues didn’t have a plan B. Picture: Getty

FORWARDS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM

Further to that point. There has been a lot of criticism of the NSW forwards but they are not the problem.

The fact is the likes of Haas, Murray, Junior Paulo, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo are good enough to get the job done.

But that needs to be the starting pack, not having Cook, Murray and Martin all coming off the bench. The best and most experienced players have to start.

OWNING SELECTION BLUNDERS

I would have loved to have seen Fittler come out after game one when he realised he’d stuffed up not playing two hookers and taken ownership of his selection blunder and not hanging Nicho Hynes out to dry.

Fittler should have conceded exactly why Hynes became collateral damage, especially given so many had questioned not taking two hookers into game one which worked so well for Queensland.

But instead it was Hynes who had to live with the likes of Brent Tate and others questioning if he was ever an “Origin player”.

The fact is Hynes is yet another NSW player on Fittler’s watch who didn’t get a fair chance to answer that question with his 10 minutes covering in the centres for Turbo in game one.

He just became another NSW scapegoat.

Brad Fittler’s coaching decisions raise plenty of question marks. Picture: John Appleyard

UNDERMINING THE PERFORMANCE STAFF

What is wrong with the Blues is not one thing. It is a whole series of little things that all add up to one giant negative.

You just have to look at the way the Blues played which is almost always an obvious reflection of what had gone on in camp.

And another case in point was the decision to allow the South Sydney staff to come in and keep an eye on the injured Mitchell and Murray.

Surely it is not for an outside club to try and tell some of the best credentialed performance staff in the game how to do their job.

You can’t tell me that wouldn’t undermine anyone’s confidence.

WHO SHOULD BE NSW’S NEXT COACH?

Given this will probably be Fittler’s last game in charge on the back of three series defeats in the last four years, the fans have had their say on who should take over.

In our online poll (vote below), Matty Johns clearly leads the way capturing 29 per cent of the early votes. Geoff Toovey came in next with 17 per cent ahead of Ricky Stuart with 16 per cent.

Craig Bellamy had 13 per cent, Wayne Bennett 12 per cent (yes, we put Bennett in to add a little bit of fun) and Des Hasler nine per cent, all ahead of Fittler on four per cent.

For mine it should be either Johns or Stuart, depending if the Blues are willing to backtrack on preventing club coaches being allowed to coach Origin.

BLATANT DOUBLE STANDARDS

There is another point not relating to the Blues that can’t be ignored amid the Origin wash-up.

How does Victor Radley cop a three match ban a few weeks back for a headbutt in an NRL match between the Roosters and the Dragons, yet Luai and Walsh got off with a fine when it happens in Origin, while Josh Addo-Carr also escapes with a fine for throwing a punch?

Even allowing for the fact Radley had priors that added to his penalty, this just doesn’t add up when it comes to the court of public opinion with the majority of fans surely viewing it as blatant double standards when it comes to what is acceptable in Origin compared to a club game.