NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler and axed Origin centre Latrell Mitchell working to mend relationship
Brad Fittler isn’t afraid to turn to youth in the Origin arena and the NSW coach has already earmarked one player to step up and make his Blues debut in 2020.
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Brad Fittler is no stranger to handing out debut Origin jerseys.
In his first year as NSW coach he blooded an astonishing 13 players. This year he picked seven more Blues rookies.
Now the NSW coach is ready to roll out another bolter in the Origin arena after hosting the Emerging Blues camp at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence.
The likes of Roosters halfback Kyle Flanagan, Canberra’s Curtis Scott and Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen all took part in Thursday’s training session.
But Fittler reserved special praise for South Sydney forward Liam Knight and indicated he could be a bolter for next year’s series.
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The coach earmarked Knight for a step-up into the senior squad, similar to Brisbane’s Payne Haas – who was selected for the emerging squad in 2018 and made his Blues debut in 2019.
“It’s been obvious we pick people who’s heart is in it and have been playing great footy. It doesn’t matter what their age is, who they play for, what position or what their past is either. Haas is one of those kids in this group last year,” Fittler said.
“There are 24-year old blokes in there who we have sort of waited upon. Liam Knight has been part of Blues pathways for a long time, he stood out last year so hopefully we can get some development out of someone like him.”
In 2018 Fittler selected Josh Addo-Carr, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nathan Cleary, Damien Cook, Jack de Belin, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, Tom Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Tyrone Peachey, Matt Prior and Tariq Sims as Origin first-timers.
This year Haas, Nick Cotric, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray, Jack Wighton, Daniel Saifiti and Dale Finucane joined the Blues fraternity.
It comes as Fittler and Sydney Roosters star Latrell Mitchell will meet face-to-face after their fractured relationship came to a flashpoint last week.
Fittler revealed Mitchell had reached out to him earlier this week following a breakdown in their relationship which started when the Blues centre was axed from game two and three of this year’s Origin series.
“Latrell rang me a couple of days ago, we had a great chat. A lot of it was about what is happening in Taree at the moment,” Fittler said.
“I’ll see him next Thursday. He is on holidays, for a 22-year-old he has a lot on his plate at the moment. Hopefully he can take some time to reflect, make some decisions.
“His indications were we might catch up next Thursday up in Taree … we have community event up there. It’ll be fantastic to see him.”
On Saturday Mitchell, who has been the target of constant speculation about his immediate playing future at the Roosters, said he hadn’t spoken to Fittler since his Origin axing and expressed concerns over racism following a decision from indigenous Blues players not to sing the national anthem.
“NSW went real funny on us because we don’t sing the anthem,” Mitchell told NRL.com. The quote was subsequently removed from the website at the request of NSWRL.
Fittler was quick to deny the allegation when asked about it and said Mitchell’s current predicament would serve as a learning curve for the youngster.
“That just wasn’t true. It guess it’s disappointing … he’s a young kid. Things get taken the wrong way and I understand what goes on and he’s started to learn about how to talk to the media and when not to talk to the media,” he said.
“I’m fully aware with what he’s going through. He’s a young bloke with some big decisions to be made and I wish him all the best.”
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Mitchell has used his stature as one of the most high-profile indigenous athletes in Australia to call out racist abuse, especially on social media.
Fittler said he had already spoken to the state’s brightest prospects about the toxic nature of social media at Thursday’s Emerging Blues camp at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence.
“He is at the forefront with what’s going on there … I don’t do social media so I don’t sympathise with many people that do social media and react to social media, it’s ridiculous,” he said.
“I tell (the emerging squad) I don’t do social media. It’s up to them, it’s their choice. If you want to release some anxiety in your life, don’t do it.”