State of Origin Game 3: Buzz Rothfield’s open letter to NSW coach Brad Fittler
Your 33 years of service to rugby league in NSW is why this letter is so difficult to write. But a litany of inexcusable mistakes have made your position untenable. Win or lose, it’s time to step aside.
Blues
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Dear Freddy,
Thank you for your service to rugby league in NSW.
You have been the most wonderful ambassador from the night you debuted as a Blues State of Origin player 33 years ago.
No-one has done more for the state, both on and off the field.
The charity work, the coaching clinics, the school visits, junior pathways, corporate events and the Hogs for Homeless bike rides. Your contribution has been outstanding.
It’s why this letter is so difficult to write.
Please don’t see it as “cheap” or “personal” criticism, as your advisor Greg Alexander puts it.
It’s an honest appraisal of your six years in charge of the Blues, not on Wedesday night’s win in a dead rubber.
You came in as a coach at a great time.
James Tedesco was at his prime. Nathan Cleary was emerging as the best halfback in the world.
You had Tommy ‘Turbo’ and Latrell Mitchell and the most inspirational skipper in Boyd Cordner.
The timing was perfect.
You look back at the Maroons’ team you coached against in your first match in 2018.
No Johnathan Thurston, no Billy Slater, no Cooper Cronk. And, of course, no Cameron Smith, replaced by Andrew McCullough.
The Blues won the series 2-1. You got us home the following year too.
It was a nice achievement in that we lost the first game and you axed Cody Walker to bring James Maloney in at five-eighth.
You brought Walker back in 2020 but then dropped him again.
Three years later he’s back in the side... and wins man of the match.
All this chopping and changing. We’ve had so many halves pairings.
Cleary and Maloney, Cleary and Walker, Cleary and Keary, Cleary and Luai, Pearce and Maloney, Moses and Wighton, Moses and Luai and Moses and Walker last night.
That’s eight in 18 games you’ve been in charge of.
Where’s the stability?
In 2020 we were odds-on favourites. On paper our team was worth millions more than the Maroons, who used Brenko Lee, Edrick Lee, Corey Allan and Dunamis Lui.
Handy club footballers but hardly Origin legends in the team Dean Ritchie described as the worst in 40 years. It was an unlosable series.
Let’s look at it more recently.
So many of your selections have been hard to understand.
Last year no Reagan Campbell-Gillard. You said: “Reagan has a style of footy that right now doesn’t suit the way we want to play.”
A few months later he was a standout for the Kangaroos at the World Cup. Now you bring him back.
The same with Josh Addo-Carr, who was snubbed for the Blues, but scored 12 tries at the World Cup.
Dally M champion Nicho Hynes. You gave him 10 minutes in game one, out of position in Adelaide. He’s then abandoned for the rest of the series.
Anyone questioning why is accused of trying to drive a wedge between you and Nicho.
The same with young Stefano Utoikamanu from Wests Tigers.
He gets 10 minutes in Brisbane. Then you ditch him and say he’s been “rested”.
It’s been all over the shop. For game one you had Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey in camp with Api Koroisau. Then you bring in Reece Robson over the top of him.
And what about Dylan Edwards. Clive Churchill Medal winner. The best fullback in the game on form for the last couple of years, yet unwanted.
But you pick Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater ahead of him as the 18th man.
Last night’s game and result was irrelevant. Dead rubbers mean nothing.
Win, lose or draw … the writing was on the wall.
Last night was so much better but it was all too late. Another series gone.
Three series losses in four years is unacceptable.
As harsh as it sounds and as difficult it is to write ... it’s time to step aside.
Cheers, Buzz.
ORIGIN BUZZ: HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHT
Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr’s chip-and-chase try in the 21st minute. The most spectacular display of skill and speed to give NSW a 10-6 lead.
LOWLIGHT
Daly Cherry Evans having to accept the shield in front of the NSW home crowd. They should have given him the trophy two weeks ago in Brisbane.
LOWLIGHT II
The pathetic RLPA media ban that prevented viewers and fans hearing from Blues debutant hero Bradman Best and man of the match Cody Walker.
NOT WELCOME
The NRL suite was missing some regular faces at Accor. Invitations to the RLPA, the NSWRL and QRL into Andrew Abdo’s corporate box were withdrawn because of recent disagreements. Instead, Clint Newton watched with the state leagues from their own suite.
SPOTTED
Talking about milking it for all it’s worth – a Queensland farmer even branded his cows 3-nil on the morning of the game, anticipating the first series whitewash since 2010.
My neighbors have spoken #originpic.twitter.com/3XBiLdjkub
— Neil Cordy (@neilcordy) July 12, 2023
SPOTTED
Blues coach Freddy Fittler in a deep conversation with Argentina’s rugby union coach Michael Cheika outside the Crowne Plaza in Coogee on Tuesday morning.
SPOTTED
“Rested’ Blues stars Nicho Hynes, Hudson Young and Junior Paulo watching the game with injured tri Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and Api Koroisau.
SPOTTED
Daniel Anderson’s sons Cooper and Spencer with Freddy Fittler at the game thanks to the generosity of NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo. Abdo paid $20,000 at the Anderson fundraiser last week for the money-can’t-buy experience of attending the captain’s run with seats behind the playing bench for the match and being invited post-game in dressing room. Abdo gave the prize to the boys for being such a huge support for their dad since the accident.
RECORD BREAKERS
The two captains both broke Origin records last night – Daly Cherry Evans overtook the great Alfie Langer with most consecutive half-back appearances (16) and James Tedesco broke Danny Buderus’ all time Blues record of 21 consecutive appearances.
360 VIEW
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