Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

'Doesn't mean anything': NSW boss unfazed by State of Origin I defeat

By AAP
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Brad Fittler was unusually tightlipped as the NSW coach fronted a slightly awkward boxing-style joint media conference on the eve of State of Origin II in Perth.

ADVERTISEMENT

In front of members of the public, Fittler was flanked by Blues captain James Tedesco, Queensland coach Billy Slater and Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

The setting didn’t lend itself to elaborate responses but Fittler kept his cards close to his chest before aiming to square the series at a sold out Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Related

The Blues coach knows his side is facing an uphill battle to turn the series around after losing the opener in Sydney.

NSW haven’t come back from losing an Origin I game in Sydney and gone on to win the series since 1994.

In 2019, Fittler took NSW to Perth while 1-0 down, winning Origin II 38-6 and then going on to lift the shield in the decider.

“We reacted,” he said of his learnings from 2019.

“I think we went away and noted that we could do some things better. We’ve trained accordingly but it gives you no guarantees.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We need to make it happen, just because you lost the first one doesn’t mean anything.”

Fittler has reacted once again, this time making seven changes.

The most notable of those resulted in hooker Damien Cook being benched for Api Koroisau and the recall of Jake Trbojevic.

Trbojevic will play at prop with Junior Paulo, who was ineffective as an interchange forward in Origin I and is one of the game’s best pace-setting props, coming off the bench again.

“Over the time in our team Junior has done both, he has come off the bench more so than not,” Fittler said.

ADVERTISEMENT

One of the main focuses for NSW in training this week has been slowing down Queensland’s fast ruck, an area the Blues lost out in during game one.

They were criticised for being “too nice” by Fittler’s deputy Greg Alexander, who said the Blues needed to push the envelope with referee Ashley Klein on Sunday.

“We’ve just done our due diligence, like everyone does and asked for explanations,” Fittler said.

“Outside of that, no I haven’t spoken to (referees boss) Gerard Maxwell.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

44 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING ‘It’s about his career’: Why NRL star Payne Haas could jump codes ‘It’s about his career’: Why NRL star Payne Haas could jump codes
Search