‘That will officially do me’: Left-field Fittler replacement if Blues lose Origin

The NRL 360 panel have traded barbs over who should be the next New South Wales coach if Brad Fittler loses the 2023 series.

Brad Fittler and Phil Rothfield.

The NRL 360 panel have traded barbs over who should be the next New South Wales coach if Brad Fittler loses the 2023 series.

Phil Rothfield suggested Canberra coach Ricky Stuart should return for a third stint as Blues coach, after coaching in 2005 and 2011-12.

But Gorden Tallis and Brent Read argued the job had become too big for the limited time a club coach could invest in the role.

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That prompted Read to come up with a “left-field” candidate in recently axed Roosters assistant Jason Ryles.

Ryles was offered the Dragons head coaching role last week but he sensationally knocked it back to instead join the Storm with an eye to eventually replacing Craig Bellamy.

The former Kangaroos and Blues prop was contracted with the Roosters until the end of 2025 but the club parted ways with Ryles because he started talking to the Dragons.

The NRL 360 panel were discussing potential Fittler replacements when Read set the debate alight.

Read: I’ve got a left-field one… What about Jason Ryles.

Rothfield: That will officially do me, that will do me.

Brad Fittler and Phil Rothfield.

Read: He’s a rookie NRL head coach. He’s played Origin, he’ll be an assistant coach at the Storm next year, he’s been around a long time, he’s worked with a lot of high-profile coaches, what’s wrong with the idea?

Rothfield: I don’t think he’s any hope whatsoever, untried coach.

Read: Just like Billy Slater.

Rothfield: Billy is different. Billy is the greatest fullback we’ve ever seen play the game, he’s an Immortal, he’s surrounded himself with (Cameron) Smith and (Johnathan) Thurston.

Read: Jason Ryles was a pretty good footballer in his day, I don’t know if you remember but he played for Australia and New South Wales in the front row, went all right.

Rothfield: He wouldn’t be in my top 10.

Tallis: I like blokes that have played Origin and I think it’s gone past the club coach, there’s a lot more work to do than just coach three games.

Read: I think you need someone who has played in that arena, find an assistant coach somewhere who has played in that arena, there’s not many better than him.

Rothfield: You’ve got this big rap on Jason Ryles, you’re aware he’s walked out on the Roosters and they are struggling deluxe. What I’m saying is he hasn’t done a sensational job as Robbo’s sidekick.

Tallis: That’s the head coach’s role, not the assistant coach. So maybe Robbo is not doing the job. You can’t blame an assistant coach for the way a first-grade side is going.

Originally published as ‘That will officially do me’: Left-field Fittler replacement if Blues lose Origin