Claiming former NSW coach Michael Foley had the “advantage” of inside knowledge, Waratahs counterpart Michael Cheika pulled out his own ace ahead of Sunday’s Super Rugby derby with the Western Force.
To combat Foley, Cheika called in a favour from rugby league legend and good friend Brad Fittler on Tuesday.
Fittler was a surprise starter at NSW training in Sydney and certainly didn’t hold back, taking full reins as he ran the backline, even scoring a try at one point, as the Waratahs soaked up the skills and wisdom of one of Australia’s greatest rugby league five-eighths.
Back at a ground on which he knows every blade of grass after a decade at the Sydney Roosters, Fittler worked particularly closely with Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley – during and after the extended 90-minute session.
A long-time friend of Fittler’s, Cheika said inviting the former Test and State of Origin star was worthwhile “all day, every day”.
“It goes without saying all the guys will listen to him,” the Tahs coach said.
“Just for something different, but already you can also see he has added something to our game.
“Hopefully he’ll be able to sneak a few bits into the game on the weekend as well.”
Cheika acknowledged the different skill sets in rugby league and union.
“But you can’t deny the skills that he brings to the game,” he said.
“It’s obviously a big bonus for us to have him down here. You only had to see how much they were listening. He was pretty much replicating shapes he was looking to get them to play.
“He was really good.”
Fittler even spent time working with front-rowers Benn Robinson and John Ulugia.
“Passing is the same for props and flankers as it is for five-eighths,” Cheika said.
“Passing is passing and that’s a big thing our guys have been working on this year – our tight-five players in particular – and I think they’re getting better at it, being able to play with the ball.”
Saying the Waratahs “look strong”, Fittler offered “just little tips we’ve got here in league that we’ve learnt over a long time”.
“The games obviously have their differences,” he said.
“They’ve got to get in the rucks and mauls and stuff like that – but just some things that we do, they’re all basic, very basic.”
The match will be the first meeting between the two sides since Foley resigned from NSW last year to join the Force, a move that opened the door for Cheika to join the Waratahs.
Cheika insisted the head-to-head coaching battle was “irrelevant”, but admitted Foley’s inside knowledge “gives him a definite advantage, yes”.
“I’m sure he’ll be using that in preparation for the game,” he said.
“(But) there’s no such thing as a coaching match-up. Players play the game – the coach just sits in there and stresses.”
Cheika said he expected halfback Brendan McKibbin to recover from his shoulder injury in time to tackle the Force and that Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau would also be available for selection after being sidelined for two weeks.
Albo
Guest
+1. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Hightackle
Guest
FOS has nothing to say but NSW is bad. He complains even though far more Reds are selected. So not only does he hate NSW, he doesnt even have a reason for it, so he just makes one up. 50% more Reds were Wallabies in 2012. All 3 assistant coaches were QLDers. All 4 captains were QLD products. Boo hoo. You live in a world thats the opposite to reality. Mitchell, Moore, JOC, Barnes all QLDers.
GWS
Guest
I support the wbs. And anyone playing the tahs.
Billy Bob
Guest
Some decidedly stubborn comments above from ... well you know who they are. Macqueen who was one of our most successful coaches, used league players to coach defence and on defence won World Cup, Bledisloe and Lions series, in that order. Also used afl drills for air skills. Who on here knocking Fitler knows himself to be a better attack consultant than the league star? Unless you were there to see how crap he was then you don't actually know. So it's just bald prejudice that brings you to write of this session as an extreme negative. Prejudices are just like bums. Everyone has one. And it's best use is to sit on it, not peddle it around town (or the web). Btw Macqueen a couple of years ago saw league attack skills as a new frontier to introduce to rugby. They have to score within 6 phases, so it is by design more intense. Closed-mindedness is sorta deliberate dumbness, isn't it?
Malo
Guest
give Freddy some boots and a mouthguard
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Agree, as simple as that.
formeropenside
Guest
ts not hate, eJ, more contempt. thanks for reminding me of the personal failure I am apparently afflicted with.
Johnno
Guest
Fitler would of been a wallaby certain of that. If TIm Wallace, Paul Kahl, Matt Pini, Nathan Sponner, Scott Bowen, were deemed good enough to be wallabies, then Brad Fitler would of been a wallaby. Fitler played in a golden oldies rugby union tournament in bermuda this year as did andrew johns play in it. Adam Frier played in it, ex-wallaby hooker and he said Freddy had all the skills he would of made it i in rugby union.
eagleJack
Guest
If only you put as much effort into life as you do about hating everything NSW/Sydney. Maybe you could have been successful.
Big Time
Guest
Take your Union hat off for a tic, and without being disrespectful, Fittler is more gifted then all those blokes. Yeah they were great Union players, but Fittler was a class above them. Naturally one of the most gifted players to have played League, who had good vision, great kicking game, excellent passing game and a solid defender. I could think of worse people to get in.
formeropenside
Guest
well,the other teams might finally get a decent shot at Wallaby selection for a change Queenslanders would pack Suncorp out regularly to see a proper Wallaby team take on teams like the AB's on a regular basis. death in NSW would not deleteriously affect rugby in Queensland. Maybe it would hurt the mendicant "provinces" but that is really none of my concern
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Didnt Fitler have to kick it away every 5 tackles?
bluerose
Guest
bring Mark Ella too.
stanley grella
Guest
so yo havnt watched them at all this year then?
stanley grella
Guest
without NSW rugby, there would be no reason for the other teams, nothing to aspire to would lead to mediocrity and finally death.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
I agree, and it's not like NSW have had a world class 5/8 in the proffesional era they can ask for advice anyway. The best was probably Manny Edmonds, and they sent him to France.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
FOS, why do you have an ax to grind with the Waratahs ? Surely for the good of Australian Rugby / Wallabies you can rise above it no ? I want all our teams competing well and hopefully winning games. I must be in the minority with this view maybe. If Freddy can impart some wisdom / tips then why not. Foley is showing some really good signs and any advice should be welcomed no matter what code it's coming from.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
WF, it's a consultant fee for his good mate. He's probably not mates with the players you mentioned.
peterlala
Guest
Brilliant move by Michael Cheika. What a great experience for his players, personally and professionally. I know Brad Fittler would have told them to keep possession, not kick the ball away aimlessly. That alone could change their season.
Boomeranga
Guest
Was Steve Byrne at the All Blacks indicative of an organization all at sea as well? What about Brian Smith at the Brumbies? John Muggleton at the Wallabies? I fully support them looking at using people that can contribute in different ways. I'd love them to go knock on Paul Roos' door as well and get him to teach them to kick and mark.