Brad Fittler’s silence motivating Brian Kelly to aim higher

Kelly’s try-scoring strike rate was career best while his team-high 26 offloads helped transform a pedestrian left edge into one of the competition’s toughest to defend. But the phone call he hoped might come never did.

Gold Coast Titans centre Brian Kelly has not heard a word from Blues coach Brad Fittler all season but that silence will drive the Ballina product to a State of Origin debut sooner rather than later.

The 24-year-old’s potential, which flashed so brightly at Manly in 2017 and 2018, roared into fully-fledged stardom under Justin Holbrook in 2020.

Kelly’s try-scoring strike rate of 38 per cent was a career best while his team-high 26 offloads helped transform a pedestrian left edge into one of the competition’s toughest to defend by year’s end.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Brian Kelly of the Titans celebrates scoring a try during the round 20 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium on September 25, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

But the phone call he hoped might come never did.

Dally M winner Jack Wighton, Panthers rookie Stephen Crichton and Dragon Zac Lomax were the specialist centres preferred ahead of Kelly, and rightly so, but his hunger to join them has only grown.

“Every kid dreams to play with the Blues for State of Origin,” he said.

“I’ve been wanting it for so long and I’d love to play but I haven’t heard too much (from the Blues camp).

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“I’m not the selector, I just have to do what I do and put my best foot forward.

“I’ll just keep playing my best footy and work on the little things in my game and hopefully I’ll get picked by the selectors.”

One concern selectors won’t have to worry about in 2021 is Kelly’s professionalism.

Kelly’s slow start to the year, picked first on the bench and then thrust onto the wing to solve an injury crisis, was a painstaking lesson drummed into him by coach Holbrook.

“I had a little hiccup at the start of the year,” Kelly revealed. “Obviously the COVID break mucked up the pre-season with two rounds then eight weeks of nothing.

“I was being a bit slack with Zoom meetings and I missed some of those and the coach wasn’t too happy.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Brian Kelly of the Titans looks on during the round 20 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium on September 25, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

“It was a bit of professionalism stuff on the sidelines, which was a bit of a hiccup.

“Justin helped me get on the right track, just let me play footy and do what I do.

“I’m grateful for what happened because you learn from your mistakes and move on.”

Kelly flourished after stern words from the coach and overcame early form wobbles to command his place on the left centre for the final 11 games, winning five.

With boom forward recruits David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Herman Ese’ese weeks away from joining the club Kelly is excited about where he could take his game next.

“I played with David and Tino in Junior Kangaroos and they’re explosive athletes,” Kelly said.

“It will be good to get behind them and let them take us forward and use that as a platform.”

A pack moving forward will only help Kelly shine brighter, waiting for the next time his phone rings.