How the Brad Fittler factor helped the Blues win the 2004 State of Origin series

It’s been 15 years since Brad Fittler led the Blues to their last victory in a decider on home soil. Here’s how he came out of retirement to save a series.

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It has been 15 years since the Blues last won a State of Origin decider in Sydney.

The 2004 series was among the most dramatic in Origin history.

Shaun Timmins kicked a miraculous field goal to win game one.

The Blues were then engulfed in scandal when players were axed in the lead-up to Origin II because of a boozy bonding session gone wrong, prompting coach Phil Gould to ask a legend to make a comeback.

Enter Brad Fittler.

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Danny Buderus was captain, Craig Fitzgibbon, Trent Barrett and Mark Gasnier also featured in the decider. All are now part of the Blues coaching staff.

But the 2004 series will always be remembered for the future Blues coach who led his state to game three glory.

THE ROOKIE

Luke Lewis adored Fittler. As a Panthers junior, Fittler was Lewis’ hero. But by the time Lewis had come into grade Fittler was a long-time Rooster.

The pair had only crossed paths on the field before including the 2003 grand final. But now they were teammates when a fresh-faced blonde-haired winger took his place in an Origin side for the first time.

“When I was a young kid all I ever wanted to was be Brad Fittler,” Lewis, who played all three games that series, said. “He was my childhood hero. He was half the reason I wanted to play footy.

Lewis made his Origin debut in 2004.

“I heard it on the radio that they were putting out an SOS to Brad Fittler to come back for NSW. I remember driving home, and going to my mum, ‘could you imagine if they pick Brad Fittler’?

“She told me to do everything I could to make sure I was picked again for game two.

“He must’ve thought I was a pest. I just sat next to him the whole time. He was always the first on the bus, first on the training park and last off. That was one of those things that I noticed with him. He led by example.

“One thing he did say that stood out; ‘Lewie you’ll have times when you feel awesome and times you feel like crap. But you have to leave the way you feel outside those gate. People can’t see the way you’re feeling. Even when you’re down or you’re tired or you don’t feel like leading — that’s when you have to lead.’

“I kept that throughout my career.”

That wasn’t the only keepsake Lewis took with him from the 2004 series. He had his jersey signed with just one signature — Fittler’s.

“He signed it ‘mates for life’,” Lewis said of the jersey which is now framed on his mum Sharon’s wall.

THE CAPTAIN

Buderus was in his first series as captain and had success in the opening game which NSW won 9-8 in Sydney. The chaotic lead-up to game two led to Gould calling on Fittler to help out.

“Gus thought Freddy could be an option to guide me through,” Buderus said. “I learnt a lot off him from the time he came into camp about standards.’’

Buderus got a lesson in standards before one training session when Fittler began staring at him as the players put on their boots.

Buderus and Fittler played together in 2004.

Buderus looked over his shoulder to find out who was the target, only to be told, “no, you’’.

“After training, after training,’’ Fittler then murmured to Buderus during the warm-up.

Fittler eventually confronted Buderus.

“Mate what are you doing?’’ he asked. “Is that the standard you’re happy with?”

”I thought we were just warming up,’’ Buderus replied.

“There is no such thing as warming up, this is Origin.’’ came the reply.

Buderus never forgot it.

THE MAN

Fittler had no hesitation when Gould called to end his two-year Origin hiatus but his return got off to a shaky start.

“I remember saying yes straight away,” Fittler said. “I was walking along the beach and came back home — we had just got beat by Canterbury. I got a phone call from Sticky (then Roosters coach Ricky Stuart) telling me I needed to go to training first.

“I went to training. We got flogged. Totally flogged. I went into camp and I was crook a day later. I was crook leading into the game.

Fittler scored a try in the decider. Picture by David Kapernick.

“I remember Brisbane because I was standing there to catch the ball. Locky (Darren Lockyer) fluffed the kick up so I’m watching the ball bobble around. By the time it came to me our front-rower was miles away so I had to do the first hit-up.

“I was running across thinking Gorden (Tallis), (Shane) Webcke, (Petero) Civoniceva. I just had to straighten up and they smashed me. It was awesome.”

The Blues lost Origin II 22-18, setting up a decider in Sydney. Fittler said he felt no pressure.

“It was fine,” Fittler said. “I was 32. It was my last year. I didn’t live and die by any results. The result didn’t really bother me. I just wanted to go hard.

Can Fittler repeat his playing success as coach? Picture by Brett Costello.

“It was a really good footy team — young and hungry. I knew we were going to win.

“(Scoring a try off a charge down) was a bit of luck. It was one of those cool moments. I vividly remember things about it that will stay with me forever. I remember turning around and seeing all these young guys coming at me, I just had that moment on my own and as I turned around they were rushing.

“Seeing their faces was very cool.”