Test greats Laurie Daley and Darren Lockyer are poised to make a stunning return as Kangaroos selectors for the World Cup after State of Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Billy Slater quit their roles on the selection panel - only weeks after being appointed.
Australia’s World Cup defence took a bizarre twist on Thursday when the Australian Rugby League Commission was notified Fittler and Slater had withdrawn before they’d even picked a team.
NSW coach Fittler and Queensland mentor Slater had only been appointed as Kangaroos selectors on the eve of this year’s State of Origin series.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley wrote to the respective states declaring Fittler and Slater would be parachuted into the role at the expense of Daley and Lockyer, who were blindsided by the news.
But both Daley and Lockyer are poised to return to the roles, providing they accept nominations from their respective states after the Fittler-Slater saga.
“From what I’m told, Billy and Freddy [Fittler] believe they’ve got a conflict of interest because if they don’t go in there and stick up for the players they’re coaching and they miss out, the perception might be they’re not loyal to them. I can understand and respect that,” ARLC boss Peter V’landys said.
Queensland coach Billy Slater and NSW counterpart Brad Fittler.Credit: Getty Images
“They’re two legends of the game. I love Laurie, and one of the nicest people to me when I came into the game was Darren Lockyer, so you couldn’t ask for two better people. I respect both the views of Billy and Freddy. I can understand where they’re coming from and it’s no problem.”
V’landys will act as the chairman of selectors under a decade-old constitution clause and will have a casting vote on any selection deadlocks. Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga will still have a major say over the make-up of his squad, but won’t have a formal vote.
The NRL asked World Cup organisers if they could delay the naming of a 50-man Kangaroos provisional squad due on June 22 to allow Fittler and Slater to finish their Origin commitments before meeting at the selection table.
Other countries have already forwarded their extended lists to World Cup officials.
Daly Cherry-Evans and the Kangaroos haven’t played a Test since 2019.Credit: Getty
But Fittler and Slater won’t pick a squad at all as the Kangaroos prepare to play their first Test match since 2019.
According to sources familiar with the situation, both Fittler and Slater had reservations about deciding on players who they would then have to potentially coach in a future Origin series, as well as juggling media and personal commitments.
Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher said he understood the concerns of both Fittler and Slater, who won his maiden Origin series after the Maroons’ stirring game-three triumph at Suncorp Stadium.
“It would be very difficult for either of the state coaches to be a selector,” Hatcher said. “You’ve got your allegiance to the guys you coach and you would be more likely to be going with someone you saw something in, when others might not have seen the same thing. The two are eminently qualified to do it.”
Meninga is still waiting formal notification from a number of Samoan-eligible Origin stars, such as Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Junior Paulo and Josh Papali’i, as to whether they will wear the green and gold in the World Cup. NSW winger Brain To’o has already pledged his allegiance to Samoa.
The selectors will have to decide whether James Tedesco or Daly Cherry-Evans should captain Australia, the latter is in a battle with Nathan Cleary for the halfback position.
Roosters firebrand Victor Radley will turn his back on future lucrative Origin paydays to represent England at the World Cup.
While Fittler and Slater have turned down the chance to be part of the Kangaroos’ selection panel, the respective women’s state coaches will help choose the Jillaroos squad.
NSW coach Kylie Hilder and Queensland counterpart Tahnee Norris have been put forward to decide Australia’s roster for the women’s World Cup.
Australia’s men start their World Cup campaign against Fiji at Headingley on October 15, while the Jillaroos play the Cook Islands at York on November 2.
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