Brad Fittler only coaches three games a year, but finds himself in a massive slump. Facing his third series loss in four attempts the likeable rogue has not matched his on-field prowess to his off-field responsibilities.
The 51 year old still holds the playing record for NSW with 31 appearances, after sensationally debuting as an 18 year old in 1990.
He also is the youngest ever Kangaroo tourist having been selected for Australia later that same year. Fittler won Premierships with both Penrith and the Roosters, and also won the World Cup three times, twice as captain in 1995 and 2000.
However as a coach Fittler’s history is not so impressive reading. Despite signing a three-year-deal with the Roosters in August 2007 as head coach, the 2000 Golden Boot winner was gone at the end of the 2009 season, as the Roosters collected the wooden spoon with only five wins from 24 matches.
As a player for NSW between 1990-2004, Fittler had a modest 54% win rate, certainly better than another former long term player – Paul Gallen who infamously won 1 series out of 11, finishing with a 37% win rate.
There is no doubt that Bradley Scott Fittler is a true great of the game, he was a Dally M Player of the Year in three different positions, he was inducted into the NSWRL Hall of Fame in 2017 and if the Immortals were better organised he would almost certainly be one by now.
Blues coach Brad Fittler. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
But this hasn’t transitioned to his coaching career and despite being right in the contest with 12 minutes to go in Game 1 2023, his inadequacies were well and truly laid bare with his poor selections and bench use heavily exposed by a determined and under-manned Queensland side, down to 12 players and an interchange bench themselves wrecked by injury.
Fittler, Alexander and co had 12 months to pick a team to beat their arch enemy but failed miserably. It did seem they wanted a couple of bully’s in their squad in TPJ and Hudson Young to match fire with fire, but sensationally made the decision to start them both. If that wasn’t bad enough it was very obvious if this tactic didn’t come off there was no Plan B.
Young wasn’t seen after an uneventful 30 minutes, Pangai-Junior played even less with an uninspiring 20 minute opening stint followed by a dreadful 9 minutes in the second half before being hooked. On top of this Josh Addo-Carr couldn’t get near the squad last year but this season even after being injured for a large part was deemed an automatic selection.
This is where Fittler can be confusing. 31 year old Tyson Frizell a similar story, hardly in barnstorming form at club level but recalled after missing the 2022 series.
NSW certainly find themselves in a world of trouble as they enter Game 2 in Brisbane, and this was before Nathan Cleary was ruled out for the remainder of the series. But what keeps everyone watching and the die hard fans believing is the result of Game 2 last season in Perth.
A resounding 44-12 victory led by Man of the Match maestro Cleary but ably supported by the Dogs dynamo Matt Burton. Missing in this years series so far from that winning side are Burton, Daniel Tupou, Jake Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Damien Cook and Siosifa Talakai. This was after Ryan Matterson, Regan Campbell-Gillard, Kotoni Staggs and Tariq Simms were discarded after Game 1 in 2022.
So again, Fittler previously had 12 preceding months to get his team selection right for the opening game but got it horribly wrong. History shows his Game 2 selections cannot be argued with but again NSW came up short in Game 3, with Ben Hunt scoring a spectacular 78th-minute try to consign the Blues to another series loss under Fittler’s tenure.
So it would seem for Game 2 of this season NSW will likely make 5 or so changes, some injury forced. Strong words were used when Cook was discussed as missing on the bench, surely he cant back track and include him? Although he certainly should have been included for Game 1.
But despite last season’s heroic result it doesn’t seem very likely that NSW will be able to match the Game 2 highs. A settled Queensland side awaits at Suncorp with a squad more than capable of covering the losses of Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow.
It would seem Fittler’s inconsistent selections, his coaching structures and the slight arrogance that he and Alexander show is about to well and truly catch up with him, and heap more misery on the battling Blues.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If the Broncos only won because of cattle, why has no coach other than Bennett won a title there? How come Brown couldn’t win a title at the Dragons but Bennett did almost immediately? In terms of cattle, Brown’s teams were probably better than Bennett’s?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yep. Cleary is a better coach than Bennett because the last three years Either coaches don’t matter or they do. You can’t bet both ways…
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha..l you’re a classic Everyone else is an armchair / Jason recliner expert and dunning Krueger victim, but you’re opinions are bona fide If coaching makes no difference, why even have a coach? Why pay Bellamy a million bucks when they could get you and me as co-coaches for the same result If coaching doesn’t matter, then your constant Dunning Krueger references are irrelevant. We’re all as much an expert as any first grade coach Why do NRL coaches work 14 hour days if it doesn’t make a difference? Why do NRL clubs try and find the best coach if it doesn’t make a difference? Sounds like you’re suggesting you know better than NRL club bosses… Dunning Krueger… !!!! Hahaha “Vautin won with a hugely inferior team and then got beaten when the stars returned.” You realise that’s the perfect argument that there’s more to winning than just “the cattle”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Fittler made some missteps but I have to wonder if his error is trying to coach too much. Fittler isn’t a great coach but we know that’s not what’s needed in origin. It’s about motivating a good team. NSW has more cattle so all he should really need to do is motivate them, combined with a decent strategy. But in QLD’s dominance it was hagan providing that, not Mal for example.
sheek
Roar Guru
Question: Is Brad Fittler the reason for NSW's Blues? Short Answer: Yes.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
For a start I've never said once that coaches make no difference. I've claimed that their influence is over rated and give most of the credit to the players. You are back into the habit of twisting what I've said , it's not clever at all. Many, if not most, regard Bennett as one of the best if not the best coaches ever. Clubs pay a fortune for his services. Meanwhile Nathan Cleary was unemployed and unwanted for a while and many if not most were saying his record had proven that he wasn't a good coach. How do you explain how Cleary has won more titles and his team played in more grand finals than Bennetts teams in the last three years than Bennett has achieved this century? I'm claiming Cleary's success now isn't because he woke up one day and turned into a great coach or Bennett stopped winning titles because he now can't coach. It's largely about the players talent , efforts and other factors such as injuries. If you disagree then just stick to that as you are entitled to. Paying a coach a huge amount of money is proof of nothing. Hasler was probably one of the poorest paid coaches around when he was in his first stint at Manly and winning titles. Did that prove anything or did he win any titles when he was probably the highest paid coach in the game? Based on your assurance that spending a fortune proves you are getting superior talent. How did the Tigers go when they paid a fortune for a series of flops in their roster? How about the Titans or Eels when they paid big money for flops? These lists of worst signings in history for players are all wrong are they? Your argument is that the clubs know better and if they spend a million dollars on a coach or player then you turn a blind eye to the outcome because somehow how dare you say the clubs get it wrong? Laughable , completely laughable.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Typical reply from a Dunning -Krueger. You can't base an argument on one series. Vautin won with a hugely inferior team and then got beaten when the stars returned. Does this make Vautin a great coach and Bellamy and all the others like Gibson poor coaches. No is the answer. QLD have a history of winning against the odds while NSW hardly ever does. If you can show how any of this relates to the coaches and their abilities then you are on to something but don't bother wasting your time.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
Definitely one I was thinking of.
Percycutor
Roar Pro
Informed opinions are always healthy.
Percycutor
Roar Pro
Talakai a good case in point ????
NQR
Roar Rookie
Albo I commend your optimistic parochial assessment. I’d be exactly the same and very much of the view NSW can bounce back if they play well if I was supporting them. I would on the other hand say through my bias maroon eyes, that Queensland lead for 74min of the 80min. NSW unlucky not to score points but also lucky they scored a couple especially with a suspect knock on. Queensland had less ball, less field position, Gilbert gone, 3 HIA , fewer penalties and 6 agains, Holmes wasn’t perfect with kicking. You said JAC was caught out by Hammer once? As fan of Hammer I’ve noticed the grin appearing on his face when he knows he’s got someone beat and heading for the try line. When Hammer cruised to the outside of JAC and got tripped up by Taulagi the grin was just appearing on his face. The Blues got lucky there I think.
Ed Gein
Roar Rookie
Fittler is only 50% responsible. Let's not leave Greg Alexander out of the mess of the last 3 years. Between the two of them, they couldn't pick a meal at a buffet.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If coaches make no difference as you continually assert, why do clubs pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to attract the best coaching talent. Why have a coach at all? Do you know better than the people who run rugby league clubs for a living? Sounds a lot like DK to me… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
It’s not me quoting Dunning-Krueger every five minutes like I’ve just learned the phrase and hypocritically calling anyone with an opinion an “armchair expert” or “amateur selectors asses” while offering up my own…
The Barry
Roar Guru
Dunning-Krueger Why did NSW lose in 2020 when they had far superior cattle…?
The Barry
Roar Guru
That’s the most unbelievable thing about how Hynes was (mis)used NSW had heaps of ball but were struggling for points. Cleary and Yeo were targeted and their effectiveness limited. Fittler had interchanges up his sleeve… and on the bench a creative player whose strength is probing at defensive lines and finding chinks in the armour…
The Barry
Roar Guru
…if me auntie had bollocks… :laughing:
NQR
Roar Rookie
As a Queenslander I’m not inclined to give advice about what NSW problems are. A couple of suggestions I’d give thou are NSW have extremely smart and skilful footballers but they get beaten often not playing football. Focus on playing Rugby League fundamentals and less on bashing your opponent. I read QLD had a poor session defending in a training run day’s before the game. Senior players (DCE) and Slater said they had some serious work to do. NSW were in the boxing ring with Spud Carroll talking up how to deal with a Burton situation? Go figure they bashed Queensland but couldn’t number up when QLD through the ball wide. When Cattle dog is your focus I believe you don’t get Origin or rugby league like the maroon boys. By the way did or has the old cattle dog thing ever worked?
Abbot
Roar Rookie
If only the blues had someone with halves experience on the bench who could have come on to relieve the targeted pressure QLD put on Cleary being the main kicker…. if only Fitler had Hynes sight
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Fittlers running at around 50% . Bennet around 52%. Wayne Pearce 56% , Gibson, Sheens and Stanton all 33% and Bellamy 22%. Do these figures prove anything about coaching abilities? Bennett got the flick after losing all 4 games as coach of the Poms. Vautin won an unwinnable series 3 nil but then it was all downhill. SOO proves very little about the ability of coaches. Fittler will probably go if he loses this series which is fair enough. He didn't win series thru superior coaching , it was down to the cattle like all the other NSW coaches. If Turbo and Mitchell were fit and Tedesco kept his form , I'd be guessing Fittler would have kept on winning series and kept his job. QLD do often win with apparently inferior cattle and full credit to them. I can't see much evidence it's dues to superior coaching , I'll give full credit to the players.