Brad Fittler to face Blues biggest calls

Brad Fittler appears a near certainty to snag the vacant New South Wales head coaching gig, and it begs the question, is he ready to make the tough decisions required for the role?

Brad Fittler is a legend of the modern game, having played 336 games between Penrith and the Roosters, winning premierships for both, before going into a fairly mixed coaching career.

He began as the Sydney Roosters head coach in 2007, before his tenure ended two years later with a wooden spoon. He moved onto the rep scene, coaching the City Origin side to three wins, two losses and a draw over the last half a dozen years, and he’s even taken the reins of the Lebanon international side for the upcoming World Cup.

The New South Wales Blues’ board recently announced November 24^th as the date where they’ll announce Laurie Daley’s successor, and Fittler knows it’s his job to lose.

But as the old movie line goes, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’.

The former international is undoubtedly a massive fan of the Sydney Roosters, being one of the club’s great legends, though his love for his old club could prove to be a blessing and a curse.

Mitchell Pearce is the most polarizing figure in State of Origin at the moment, and has been for years now. His criticism, fair or unfair depending on who you ask, has been a constant for over half a decade now, and his time in sky blue is just about up.

As you’d expect for a halfback who has claimed just five victories in eighteen Origin games.

The question isn’t ‘does Pearce deserve to be dropped from the side’, the question is ‘is Fittler strong enough to drop a player he has such a close relationship with?’

Pearce debuted back in 2007, the same year Fittler first began coaching the Roosters, and the duo have been close ever since, so ending the rep career of a close mate is not an easy call.

But the way things have been going for the Blues in recent years, if Fittler doesn’t end Pearce’s NSW career, Pearce could be the end of Fittler’s coaching career.

On the flip side, Fittler could signal the dawn of a new era, and his beloved Sydney Roosters could still play a part in that.

Boyd Cordner will undoubtedly captain his state for the next decade, and recruit James Tedesco was close to the Blues best in 2018. Blake Ferguson’s rep career is in serious jeopardy, and it could be a club teammate that draws curtains.

Latrell Mitchell is a youngster full of raw potential. The Taree junior has been likened to Greg Inglis since the beginning of his Holden Cup career, and has slowly delivered on those expectations.

Blessed with a hulking frame, blinding speed and a deadly fend, Mitchell appears to be in a three-way battle alongside Josh Mansour and Tom Trbojevic for the New South Wales’ wings, and the potential coach’s tricolor connection could help decide his fate.

The Blues’ board will make their official announcement on November 24^th, and if Fittler does get appointed, then there are some interesting times ahead for New South Wales.