Revealed: Freddy’s blueprint for Adelaide State of Origin clash
NSW coach Brad Fittler will replicate his winning formula when the Blues head to South Australia for next year’s State of Origin series opener.
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Life’s a beach for Freddy.
The NSW Blues’ winning formula of pre-Origin bases at Bondi, Coogee and Perth’s Scarborough will be replicated for next year’s series opener in Adelaide.
Coach Brad Fittler has booked the Blues into the four-star Stamford Grand at Glenelg Beach before the June 3 clash against Queensland.
“I have been to Glenelg a couple of times and it is a fantastic place,” Fittler said.
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“I love the energy there, the water and we have really good training facilities. It will be a great way to enjoy Adelaide and get all the training done before you have to start focusing on the job.”
NSW’s training sessions will be open to the public in Adelaide.
“That’s the whole idea of taking the game there — we won’t be closing people off,” Fittler said.
NSW will spend around five days in Glenelg before shifting into the city close to game day. Blues players will use nearby footy fields close to the Adelaide Crows’ training complex.
“Part of Freddy’s camp formula is to be located in proximity to the ocean and it seems to have worked really well for him,” said NSWRL chief executive David Trodden, who was named administrator of the year at the NSW Sports Awards last week.
“In the past in Sydney, he has based the team at Coogee and Bondi and last year, when we were away in Perth, he replicated that in Scarborough.
“Next year in Adelaide, because this approach has been so successful, we will try and replicate that approach at Glenelg in South Australia. It will be the ideal environment to prepare. Glenelg will offer a similar feel to that of Scarborough last year.
“One of the great things about Origin is that is provides the ideal vehicle to spread the world about rugby league to non-traditional markets.
“Perth last year was a fantastic exercise, not only for us but for the whole game, and we are really looking forward to Adelaide for the same reasons we looked forward to Perth last year.”