Even Bradman wants Brad Fittler as NSW Origin coach

MOST people think Brad Fittler is crazy, but his dramatic influence on NSW junior star Bradman Best shows why he should be NSW coach.

BRADMAN Best, last Wednesday night, felt anything but.

Only minutes away from the biggest game of his life, an Origin curtain raiser at Suncorp Stadium, the young centre with rugby league’s greatest name was anxious.

Stressed out.

So nervous inside the NSW shed even his coach, Brad Fittler, could sense it.

“So Freddy, he casually walked up to me,” the 15-year-old Central Coast student said. “Said, ‘Bradman, are you the right man for this job?’.”

At which point this anonymous Woy Woy Rooster said, yeah, he was.

“So Freddy said, ‘right, now breathe in, breathe out’,’’ the schoolboy said.

“It’s something we’d worked on all week. Freddy would get us to close our eyes and picture a scenario — catching a bomb, scoring a try, whatever — while concentrating on our breathing.”

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Brad Fittler on the sideline during Origin II.

And what happened next is why Bradley Scott Fittler must surely be the new NSW Origin coach. For when Bradman returns to St Edwards High School, it will be as an internet star.

Not only did he score the try which sank Queensland Under-16s, he did it on fulltime — and with a 110m play that, also involving John Hopoate’s son Albert, has since gone viral.

For this is the great strength of Fittler, the coach.

His ability to not only ready men for their moment, but seize them.

Bradman Best celebrates in the Origin curtain raiser.

It’s why before City Origin gym sessions, the coach will ask his players to close their eyes, slow their breathing, then narrow their focus to making the most of those next 40 minutes.

Same deal before ballwork. Even fitness drills.

To Fittler, it all matters.

Like in training, getting around the marker and not simply to it. Or banning mobiles in camp to ensure — rather than connecting to the Twitterverse — his players connect with one other. To Fittler, this is a skill. And also what the Blues lack.

Undoubtedly the equal of Queensland on paper, NSW have time and again arrived at those biggest moments in Origin games aaaaaand ... bombed.

Which is why Fittler is the only choice to replace incumbent coach Laurie Daley.

More than understanding Origin like you’d expect our most capped Blue, Freddy also boasts a shrewd, if unique, footy brain.

One which results in City players, one day, sparring in a boxing ring. And on others, usually after the captain’s run, going barefoot to some part of the field where they want to star the following afternoon.

Bradman Best in action for the NSW Blues.

Then they lie on the ground, ­visualising success.

It’s why Paul Gallen, in footballing terms older than dirt, finished this year’s City camp saying Fittler hadn’t only opened his eyes to so much about the game, but life.

Ditto Best. That son of a concreter who is also named after Australia’s greatest cricketer. Quizzed on his unique moniker, the youngster laughs: “People are always asking if my middle name’s ‘the’, as in Bradman The Best.”

And Fittler? “People see him on TV and think he’s crazy,’’ he grins. “Yet Freddy’s so calm, so relaxed.

“Yet there is also an intensity to him.”

And it’s because before attempting anything that matters, Fittler closes his eyes, slows his breathing and narrows his focus.

Sometimes, it might be for a business meeting. Or when fronting a group of Emerging Blues to acknowledge the opportunity that exists to make a profound difference, even if on only one of them.

And it works. Ask Bradman Best.

Bradman Best on the charge for NSW.

Wanderers make right call on bloc heads

WESTERN Sydney Wanderers should be congratulated for firing this week’s warning shot at the Red and Black Bloc — misbehave again and we’ll shut you down.

While nobody from within the organisation will say it publicly, it’s understood a small element of rogue supporters have cost the club over $1 million in extra security, stadium damage, even lost sponsorship dollars. And what price a club’s image?

In the NRL, Canterbury had to employ a similar hardline stance against sections of its infamous Bulldog Army. It worked.

WSW’s Saturday blockbuster against Arsenal was undeniably huge, but cracking down on those who light flares and unfurl banners like the one directed at Sydney FC’s Graham Arnold is a greater win for the club and football in this country.

Ali always above McGregor

ANYONE else expect more from Conor McGregor last week?

While the fighting Irishman won the verbal stoush that was his world media tour with US boxer Floyd Mayweather, he was a long way from that UFC entertainer who talked himself into a $100 million payday.

His ability to self promote has been likened to Muhammad Ali, but while Ali could fill notepads leading up to a fight, his modern adversary dipped too quickly into penis jokes. Defending against racism claims, he replied: “Do they not know I’m half black ... from the belly button down?”