Blues hooker Damien Cook played at left centre in Game 2, baffles fans

Brad Fittler has been known for his unconventional selections, but this one might be the weirdest of the lot as Queensland piled it on.

Damien Cook himself seemed surprised by the call. Pics Adam Head

Brad Fittler has made plenty of moves in a desperate attempt to keep his job ahead of Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium.

The Blues were always going to need a historic effort with the odds stacked against them, and Fittler got to tinkering, his hand forced by a raft of injuries to some of New South Wales’ biggest stars.

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Hooker Api Koroisau was ruled out after Game 1 courtesy of a broken jaw playing for Wests Tigers, and was set to be replaced by previous incumbent Damien Cook, when Fittler gave fans a surprise by dropping reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes and selecting two hookers, bringing in North Queensland’s defensive machine, Murwillumbah junior Reece Robson.

With Robson on Origin debut and Queensland powerful inside, Cook was always going to have a role to play, but it’s safe to say no one expected what that role turned out to be.

With Tom Trbojevic ruled out in the opening clashes with a pectoral injury that may yet end his season, and Queensland marching up the field with every set, Fittler opted for the outright weird and put Damien Cook in at left centre.

Damien Cook might have scored the only try for the Blues, but he was out of place at left centre. Picture: NRL photos

Social media went into complete meltdown at the decision, roasting Fittler and calling for his head, with sympathy for Cook, who managed to sneak through for New South Wales’ only try of the game in the 58th minute.

The Western Weekender’s lower grades reporter Lachlan Jeffery was critical of Fittler, but encouraged by Cook’s efforts.

“Good on Damien Cook. He’s been sold an absolute s*** sandwich by Brad Fittler, but at least he’s got a try from it,” Jeffery said.

News Corp’s David Riccio called it “completely unfair to Damien Cook”, while sports reporter Bernie Coen said “great players don’t make great coaches or tacticians, and if ever that’s been evident it’s tonight.”

Balmain Tigers legend Garry Jack called it a “disgrace”, while even Cook’s club, South Sydney, noticed the strange call.

“No matter where you put him, let him Cook!” the club tweeted in celebration of Cook’s try.

Rugby league writer LeagueFreak said it was “rotten to see (Cook) put in this position”.

News Corp’s Steve Zemek was scathing in his summary.

“I really like Damien Cook. Fantastic bloke. Fantastic player. Love his story,” Zemek said.

“But he’s been sailed up s*** creek tonight by his coach. Fittler’s selections and decisions have been horrible.”

The Blues would go on to lose the Suncorp fixture 32-6 in a bloodbath that flattered New South Wales, and Fittler’s coaching career appears to be all but over.

Damien Cook himself seemed surprised by the call. Pics Adam Head

After the game, Cook himself seemed surprised at the decision to put him in at left centre.

“It was a tough night,” he told Nine.

“Wasn’t our night. Queensland played well. They did well in Game 1. Got the job done up here.

“We’re footballers out there, just got to do our job and were unlucky tonight.”

Some commentators have even called for Fittler’s head to roll before the series concludes, with News Corp’s Lachlan McKirdy saying that if New South Wales lost, “Freddy shouldn’t coach Game III”.

“Get someone new in there,” McKirdy said.

“Get some new players and give them a chance to prep for next year.”

After the game, a visibly dejected Fittler faced the press to answer for the decision to play Cook in the centres.

“That is what it is,” Fittler said, refusing to be drawn on whether the two-hooker model was appropriate, and whether Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes should have been picked.

“I’m not going to talk about who we chose - at the end of the day, (Cook) did a pretty good job at centre.

“He beat Val Holmes a couple of times, once I think he got beaten on the inside.

“You can’t cover every single position, it’s impossible. We don’t have those (bench) players to cover every single position.”

Asked whether he wanted to continue in the role as Blues coach given the nature of the first two losses, Fittler said he was focused on the next fixture.

“We’ve got another game to go,” he said.

“I’ll worry about that, and we’ll see what happens with the board.

“I’ll just worry about the next game.”