State of Origin 2023: Latest news from NSW Blues’ Game 3 camp
Contenders continue to emerge for the NSW coaching role of Brad Fittler and there’s one man who stands head and shoulders above the pack.
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Former NSW, Australia and St George champion Chris Johns has called for Cronulla’s Craig Fitzgibbon to be named NSW coach from next season, claiming the defeated Blues need a “kill for each other” mentality.
And Johns took a mighty swipe at some NSW players who refused to link arms during the pre-game national anthem, declaring: “Queensland couldn’t care if the Japanese national anthem was playing, they’d still be together wanting to kill for each other.
“And we are there making some political statement, its bulls..t. That wouldn’t happen under Craig Fitzgibbon, it would be ‘all in’.”
The NSWRL board will decide in October whether current coach Brad Fittler will be retained but Johns claims Fitzgibbon is a “scrapper who bled for NSW.”
Queensland will aim to pile more misery on NSW with a clean sweep win at Accor Stadium next Wednesday night.
“We need change and we need that warrior-like mentality that Queensland has. They have a digger mentality. They all fight for each other so we need a coach that has done that – and that’s the way Fitzgibbon played,” Johns said.
“We don’t need fancy game plans or hits ups on stats sheets – we need to play as if our lives depend on it.”
Johns played nine Origin games for NSW, nine Tests for Australia and represented City four times. He played three grand finals, losing with St George in 1985 before claiming successive titles with Brisbane in 1992 and 1993.
“NSW needs someone who can unite people to play for each other. We need an environment where everyone would kill for each other and Fitzgibbon is the man that can do that,” said Johns.
“Let me state that it’s not Freddy’s fault we have lost the last two games. It’s the way the players have played. It’s all on their heads.
“We shouldn’t be saying we should get rid of Freddy because of the way those games went. It was the players that didn’t aim up. It’s what the players have done that’s put us in this position.
“But I strongly believe we’ve got to go in a different direction. We can’t keep doing the same thing – that’s the definition of insanity; keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.
“Fitzgibbon is the type of coach we want. Play for each other, play for your teammate. He wasn’t a fancy ballplayer or strategist – the way he played is the way he coaches. Everyone has a job and you do your job.
“He ticks all the boxes and he’s been successful at Origin. He has been the best player on the field and he didn’t do it by chipping over the top and regathering and scoring an 80 metre try.
“Fitzgibbon did it by using all the characteristics we need in Origin, which is playing for your mates, covering for each other and play as if your life depends on it.”
While Fitzgibbon is contracted to Cronulla, the NSWRL will now consider NRL coaches for the NSW coaching job.
Johns, who played 56 games for the Dragons and a further 171 for the Broncos, took aim at the attitude of NSW players.
“Even before the game, (Jarome) Luai is not standing there without his arms around his teammates. That old digger mentality, we don’t desert each other, we showed loyalty to each other,” Johns said.
“Even if it is the Japanese national anthem, who gives a f…, just worry about going into battle and tearing that other team apart.
“Too many times, we worry about how many hit ups. All Queensland worry about is backing each other up and covering for each other and that’s what we have to do; play for each other.
“That last game, Queensland defended like they were defending for their lives. They had 12 men, raid after raid after raid. They repelled us. NSW needs a culture that we can breed into these players. Loyalty only comes when you show loyalty.
“Everyone says Queenslanders grow up longing and dreaming of playing for Queensland. They actually grew up of wanting to ‘be that man’, like Arthur Beetson and Gordie Tallis. That’s the difference.”
Johns is still haunted by NSW’s decision to overlook Jack Wighton for game three last year.
“I’m still bloody cranky that Jack Wighton, the type of player that bleeds for NSW, who was our best player in game one, missed game two through Covid and we ditch him for game three,” Johns said.
“Why would he want to play with us this year? Those sort of things can’t happen.
“We need people in camp like Benny (Elias) and ‘Blocker’ (Steve Roach) – they have the NSW DNA, people that understand its win-at-all-costs. People that lived and breathed Origin.”
FREDDY PULLS SHOCK POSITIONAL SWITCH
NSW coach Brad Fittler is expected to make another positional change in State of Origin III as the Blues rally to avoid suffering a series whitewash at the hands of Queensland in front of a home crowd in Sydney.
Centre Stephen Crichton is set to switch to the right side of the field after playing the first two games on the left.
It comes after Fittler already made 10 positional changes and rushed in seven new faces for next Wednesday’s clash at Accor Stadium.
The move will restore Crichton’s combination with Penrith teammate Brian To’o, who lines up again on the right wing.
The club duo were used on the left side in game one in Adelaide.
But Fittler made a late tactical switch in game two, shifting To’o to the right side alongside Tom Trbojevic.
That meant Josh Addo-Carr played on the left wing, a decision designed to combat the aerial threat of Queensland’s Xavier Coates.
Blues selector Greg Alexander confirmed Addo-Carr and Blues debutant Bradman Best would start on the left side.
“Bradman is a left centre, he’ll be on the left with Foxx (Addo-Carr), Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o on the other side.
Fellow newcomer Keaon Koloamatangi and halfback Mitchell Moses were also spotted running drills on the left side in the Blues’ first training session at Coogee Oval on Wednesday.
But Fittler hinted that come game time the South Sydney backrower will likely start on the right with Liam Martin to play on the left.
Penrith backrower Martin will start for the first time in this Origin series after coming off interchange bench in games one and two for Canberra’s Hudson Young, who was axed for the Sydney clash.
“Just from the point of view of Hudson, we are playing Hudson for a certain period and then the idea was for Liam to go in. If anything Liam’s form forced us to take a second rower out,” Fittler said.
“So Keaon then goes to the right side – just gives Keaon an opportunity. For a couple of years his form has been really good.
“So there were a few blokes who got an opportunity because it’s the last game. But at the end of the day it was more Liam Martin forcing his hand a little bit – he just plays 80 minutes and we need him out there.”
Starting Koloamatangi, hooker Damien Cook and lock Cameron Murray alongside re-called five-eighth Cody Walker will allow Fittler to take advantage of the combinations the teammates have built at South Sydney.
Wednesday morning’s field session was the first chance for Walker to take charge of the side.
“Yeah definitely, I think that combination will help (with the attack). I don’t think we’ll change tactics too much but with the likes of Cody (Walker) coming in, there are certain shapes he likes to run, so we have to make sure we don’t make him run other shapes,” Cook said.
“When we (start training) I’m sure Cody will talk to the group about how he likes to run things and paths on the field.
“It’ll be nice and simple. You don’t get a lot of opportunities in Origin and when you do get those opportunities it’s about taking it and icing it. That’s what we haven’t quite done in last two games.”
Coach Fittler has seven days to fine tune his new edge combinations.
FITTLER CALLS IN LEGENDARY NSW ICON
Canterbury legend and NSW great Steve Mortimer was a surprise onlooker at Blues training in Coogee on Wednesday morning.
Coach Brad Fittler had invited the inspirational skipper, known for his unrelenting toughness, to talk to players before hitting the training paddock for the first time this week.
Mortimer joined the Blues for breakfast at the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club.
Despite the series being lost for 2023, NSW are playing for pride ahead of a home crowd in Sydney and if the players needed any added motivation, they would have found it in the presence of Mortimer.
Mortimer led the Blues to their first Origin series win in 1985 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The win went down in Origin folklore and produced one of the game’s most iconic moments.
Mortimer was chaired from the SCG on the shoulders of his Blues teammates with his arms in the air as he shouted in triumph to the heavens.
In team news, Coach Fittler is expected to make another positional change in game three, with centre Stephen Crichton to switch into the right side of the field.
The move will restore Crichton’s combination with Penrith teammate Brian To’o, who line-up again on the right wing.
The club duo were used on the left side in game one in Adelaide.
But coach Fittler made a late tactical switch in game two, shifting To’o to the right side alongside Tom Trbojevic.
That meant Josh Addo-Carr played on the left wing, a decision designed to combat the aerial threat of Queensland’s Xavier Coates.
Blues selector Greg Alexander confirmed Addo-Carr and Blues debutant Bradman Best would start on the left side in Sydney on July 12.
“Bradman is a left centre, he’ll be on the left with Fox (Addo-Carr), Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o on the other side.
Fellow newcomer Keaon Koloamatangi and halfback Mitchell Moses were also spotted training on the left side.
Five-eighth Cody Walker and Liam Martin trained on the right side with Crichton and To’o.
Coach Fittler has seven days to fine tune his new edge combinations.
Originally published as State of Origin 2023: Latest news from NSW Blues’ Game 3 camp
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