Brad Fittler might keep on as NSW Blues coach regardless of dropping back-to-back State of Origin sequence whereas the shock sighting of Ivan Cleary on Wednesday evening may very well be a “glimpse into the future”.
That is in keeping with The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read, who stated on Thursday that Fittler benefited from having a coach of Cleary’s standing alongside him within the 24-10 win.
Speaking to reporters after the sport three victory, Fittler stated he had requested Cleary if he wished to hitch him within the teaching field and received lots out of the expertise.
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“I’m impressed with the way he handles games and I thought he might be able to help tonight,” the Blues coach stated.
“I asked him a lot of questions… and he came up with pretty good answers.”
The mixture actually paid dividends on the sector, with the Blues wanting slick in assault as they restored satisfaction with a 14-point win over the Maroons.
Fittler is off-contract after this sequence, leaving NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) with an enormous choice to make given there aren’t any clear contenders to switch him at this level.
NSWRL powerbrokers aren’t in any rush to finalise that call, though the prospect of Fittler teaming up with an skilled NRL coach has offered meals for thought.
“I spoke to Paul Conlon, the chair of NSW rugby league prior to the game,” Read stated on Triple M’s ‘The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude & Wendell’.
“They’re in no rush. They’re going to take a bit of time to review the series, go through everything that unfolded. I imagine in four to six weeks we’ll have some sort of clarity around Brad Fittler’s future.
“I think we got a glimpse into the future last night. If Freddy wants to keep the job I’d be getting on a bended knee trying to convince Ivan Cleary to come along for the journey… when Freddy was really good as an Origin coach was when Craig Fitzgibbon was beside him. He hasn’t had Fitzy for a few years.
“He had Ivan beside him last night and I think it showed the benefit of having a guy in the NRL and in the system and a really smart coach. If Freddy was to turn around to the NSW Rugby League tomorrow and say, ‘I want to do the job again and Ivan is committed to do it with me’, if I’m them I’d jump at that opportunity.”
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That is according to reporting from The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio, who believes the inclusion of Cleary may very well be all Fittler must get a shot at redemption in 2024.
“It will probably take about a month before the NSW Rugby League board are able to sit down with Fittler and determine what needs to happen next,” Riccio stated on Triple M’s ‘Mick & MG In The Morning’.
“I can tell you it is certainly not a closed case that Fittler’s Origin coaching career is over. There is a real sense that he could go around for at least another season.
“What was interesting last night was the inclusion of Penrith premiership-winning coach Ivan Cleary inside the coaching box. That has been the drum for the last couple of weeks that, if there is going to be a change, it might be in and around Freddy’s staff and potentially the inclusion of Ivan Cleary as somewhat of a coaching advisor… it may just be the subtle change that aids Freddy’s coaching future.”
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There are authentic issues as as to if Fittler deserves one other likelihood although, even when it was alongside a coach of Cleary’s calibre, given the questionable selections he made this sequence.
That is a degree The Daily Telegraph’s Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield made in an open letter to Fittler that was revealed on Thursday morning.
Although Rothfield admitted on Fox League’s ‘NRL 360’ that if Fittler does get one other 12 months on the helm it ought to be on the settlement he has a correct teaching set-up round him.
“Andrew Johns, our attack coach, sits in the Channel Nine commentary box and can’t give Freddy an opinion,” Rothfield stated.
“When we lost a player in Adelaide and Brisbane, we couldn’t get to Joey our attack coach and say, ‘Mate, should we send Murray in the centres? Should we send Cook?’. We need full-time Blues people… I think Freddy is in a position where he does need help.
“I’m not saying Ivan Cleary [specifically] but someone of his stature.”
Fox League’s James Hooper reported it’s probably that Fittler will likely be given one other season to show himself, pointing in direction of his relationship with NSWRL administrators as a key ingredient working in his favour.
“I think in all likelihood Freddy will probably be offered another season,” Hooper stated.
“From the outside point of view, I’d suggest people will probably like the inclusion of Ivan Cleary, having been in that box last night and the style of game they produced. He’s [Freddy] very strong, he’s got a great rapport with the directors… they have a lot of time and respect for Freddy and so I’d be thinking of the back of that he probably gets a seventh season at the helm.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
