New South Wales coach Brad Fittler sends strong message to off-contract Blues players
BRAD Fittler has declared any Blues player willing to drag their contract negotiations into the public domain prior to this year’s Origin series risk being overlooked for selection.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BRAD Fittler has declared any Blues player willing to drag their contract negotiations into the public domain prior to this year’s Origin series risk being overlooked for selection.
In a deliberate and timely warning to at least 13 potential Blues just three weeks from kick-off of the 2018 NRL season, Fittler’s first stake in the ground as NSW coach is a sign of both frustration and intent.
Fittler is adamant several off-contract NSW players were more focused on sealing their own futures than winning the 2017 Origin series against Queensland — and he’s had enough.
“It was unbelievably obvious last year that when the pressure came on, we (NSW) didn’t do well at all,’’ Fittler said.
“There were so many distractions.
“They (players) do employ their managers so they need to be in control of any sort of negotiations. When stuff is going on in their life, they need to be in control.
“If they want to be in the papers every day and making comments, there’s a good chance they won’t be playing Origin.”
Seven NSW Origin players including Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Peats, Josh Dugan, Jack Bird, James Tedesco and Aaron Woods were all involved in contract negotiations throughout last year’s series.
Bird was the only player to resolve his future well in advance of Origin I — signing with the Brisbane Broncos last April.
Blues five-eighth James Maloney, despite not being off-contract at Cronulla, was also drawn into regular discussion and speculation that he would be at another club in 2018 and also, as a board member for the RLPA during last year’s protracted CBA negotiations.
Fittler says the contract innuendo showed in the Blues overall performance.
SMASH: Bash brother drew strength from league
PRE-SEASON: Every trial for every club
“Yeah, I think so. It’s too hard and it shows. It showed,’’ Fittler said when asked if he would rule a line through a player willing to play his future out in the public prior to the Origin opener on June 6.
This season, several of the Blues highest-profile players are off-contract including captain Boyd Cordner, Blake Ferguson, Josh Mansour and Hayne, while Blues hopefuls Peter Wallace, Junior Paulo, Blake Austin, Curtis Scott and Aidan Sezer are on the open market.
“It’s important that they are in control of whatever is happening about them,’’ Fittler said.
“A lot of people criticise managers and I see it all the time, blokes being paraded around all different clubs.
“They (players) need to understand they employ managers, not the other way around.
“That’s something I spoke to the young kids about at the Emerging (Blues) Camp. Get yourself in order.’’
When offered the point that player agent’s often use an Origin series to help increase their salaries of their client’s, Fittler dead-batted: “From a manager’s point of view it’s a good tactic. But we need to win.”
A footy tragic, Fittler said he was excited about the new season ahead while adding that for NSW to be successful, the NRL’s Sydney teams needed to fire.
“I’d like to see some Sydney teams do really well, that would be nice. It’s been a while,’’ Fittler said.