Brad Fittler bristles after big selection question

Brad Fittler has fired up during a live TV segment accusing figures of “trying to drive a wedge” between him and a NSW star.

Brad Fittler on 100% Footy. Photo: 9Now.

Brad Fittler has shown surprising emotion when asked about his decision to overlook Nicho Hynes for State of Origin Game 3.

The NSW coach has continued to come under fire in recent days following the Blues’ crushing defeat to Queensland at Suncorp Stadium last month.

His series of bombshell selection changes caught many by surprise on Monday, but it is his predictable snub of the Sharks playmaker that has caused Fittler the most grief.

With Nathan Cleary gone for the series and Jarome Luai clearly falling out of favour, Fittler handed the No. 6 jumper to Cody Walker with the Rabbitohs star set to partner with Mitchell Moses in the halves.

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The move to again overlook Hynes — the reigning Dally M Medallist — raised serious questions about Hynes Origin future after he was given just 10mins on the field while playing at centre in the series-opening loss in Adelaide.

The swirling suggestions that Fittler simply doesn’t see Hynes as a State of Origin-level playmaker have not sat well with the Roosters and Panthers legend.

He slammed those suggestions when fronting Channel 9’s 100% Footy on Monday night.

“The situation with Nicho at the moment is he’s playing halfback with the Sharks and he pretty much predominantly plays on the right hand side,” Fittler said.

“Mitchell Moses is a halfback who plays on the right hand side and you have someone like Cody Walker who is a five eighth who plays on the other side. They’re a much better fit.

Brad Fittler on 100% Footy. Photo: 9Now.

“Because Nicho has been doing such a great job on and off the field at the moment, it seems like a really easy target for a lot of media people to come in to scrutinise and want to put pressure on that selection and it feels like they want to drive a wedge between Nicho and myself. Nicho and myself are totally understanding of the situation at the moment.

“I respect what he’s doing for the sharks. He’s doing an incredible job. If he keeps going, he’s going to force his way into the team somewhere.”

Fittler’s earlier comments suggested Walker may have been his preferred candidate — ahead of Luai — to partner Moses in Game 2.

“He had a quad injury going into the second origin,” Fittler said of Walker’s call up.

“The thing is with Jarome I’ve loved him being part of the team. He brings great energy. He’ll never let you down on the field, but I just thought it’s Cody Walker’s time. He’s on his home ground in front of 70,000 - 80,00 people and like I said I picked a team to win.”

Fittler admitted he was disappointed with his team’s performance in Origin II and says the result forced his hand at the selection table.

Fittler’s future is swaying in the breeze at the moment with his contract expiring at the end of the 2023 series.

His selections for Game 3 could make or break him.

With the embarrassment of the first whitewash in 13 years hanging over the side, Fittler made five changes and was forced into another two.

What else does Nicho Hynes need to do? Picture: NRL Imagery

After losing Game 2, and the series, Fittler dropped Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Tyson Frizell, Hudson Young and Stefano Utoikamanu. Tom Trbojevic and Payne Haas will also miss Game 3 through injury.

The Blues recalled Cody Walker, Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jacob Saifiti, while Bradman Best and Keaon Koloamatangi will make their Origin debuts. Jake Trbojevic will also return after overcoming a calf injury.

Earlier, Fittler’s right-hand man Greg Alexander also bristled when asked about Hynes.

During a segment on Fox League’s NRL 360, leading journalist Phil Rothfield said he felt Hynes had been “abandoned”, pointing to the Sharks’ attack is the best in the NRL as the side averages more than 28 points per game.

Alexander said: “Rep footy’s tough and we decided to go another way.”

Rothfield doubled down, saying Hynes got just 10 minutes at centre in game one.

“Do I feel for Nicho? Yes. Does he deserve an explanation? Well I’m sure he’s spoken to Freddy about it,” Alexander said.

“I don’t know what else you want Buzz, do you want him in this side?”

Rothfield said “I’m just doing my job … I wasn’t being rude”, before asking about Stefano Utoikamanu who was also dumped after limited minutes.

For that, Alexander said it was down to the return of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jake Trbojevic.

Alexander also called veteran journalist Brent Read “disrespectful” after he questioned the selection of Best in the centres for Origin III.

Greg Alexander was left fuming. Photo: Fox Sports

He asked what it meant for the theory of “stick and pick”, which Queensland are often praised for.

“There’s a whole lot of things that come into picking a side,” Alexander said.

“It’s form, it’s players that have been there before. Even if players haven’t been playing their best, they deserve another chance. There’s a lot of things that come into the selection process it’s not just picking and sticking.

“We’ve lost two games, we needed to make change. We’ve done that in the past so you need to make change. You can’t stick with what you’ve got if you weren’t happy with how things were going and that’s what we’ve done.”

NSW Blues: 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Brian To’o, 3. Stephen Crichton, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Jake Trbojevic, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11. Liam Martin, 12. Keaon Koloamatangi, 13. Cameron Murray

Interchange: 14. Isaah Yeo, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Reece Robson, 17. Clint Gutherson

Reserves: 18. Scott Drinkwater, 19. Spencer Leniu

QLD Maroons: 1. AJ Brimson, 2. Xavier Coates, 3. Valentine Holmes, 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8. Reuben Cotter, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. David Fifita, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Moeaki Fotuaika, 17. Corey Horsburgh

Reserves: 18. Tom Dearden, 19. J’maine Hopgood