Brad Fittler profiles every potential NSW player in bid to end Blues’ ‘selfish culture’
BRAD Fittler has spent the past three months profiling the character of every player he wants to select to represent the state of NSW.
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BRAD Fittler has spent the past three months profiling the character of every player he wants to select to represent the state of NSW.
Ahead of his first Origin series as head coach of the Blues, Fittler has revealed how he has visited every NRL club to better understand the disposition of prospective Blues.
“I am going to pick players that think about their teammates,’’ Fittler said on Nine’s Thursday Night Footy Show.
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“I have been going around and asking a lot of coaches about their players, the ones who are in line (to be chosen), what sort of people they are.
“That’s been one of the key things we have been trying to do, get out to all the clubs.’’
Fittler said it was a necessary process after watching the demise of a Blues side last year he believes were overcome by a “selfish culture.”
“It was a selfish culture, no doubt about that,’’ Fittler said.
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“Because there was a lot of people making decisions for themselves.
“There is only really two cultures — there is one where people think about themself and there is one where people think about their workmates, their colleagues and their teammates.
“I think the key is actions. If you show good actions around a team they will label it as good culture.
“You show bad actions, you don’t put your teammates first, they will say it is a bad culture.
“(The players we choose) can come in and put the rest of their life behind them and put NSW and the team first.
“They are the best NSW players.’’
Fittler added that he wouldn’t be implementing a booze ban during next week’s camp in Coogee.
“No, they’re adults, we’re all adults,’’ Fittler said.
“Sometimes it is the quickest way to get to know each other because it brings down a lot of barriers.
“If you can do it maturely, which I haven’t done in parts of my history.
“We just have to hope we all respect each other and respect what has happened in the past, and how stringent society is on our stars at the moment with drinking.
“They are all things we have to get right.’’
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