Freddy slams NSW halfback selection ‘circus’

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has labelled the debate around the side’s halfback position a “circus” after declaring the jersey was Mitchell Moses’ to lose.

Moses replaced Nathan Cleary in the 2021 series and many believed the Eels halfback would have to fight for the position along with Nicho Hynes and Adam Reynolds.

Fittler explained he was confident Moses would be the man to take on the role, and his performance against the Bulldogs further solidified his spot.

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“The last time Nathan was injured, Mitchell played, so the banter around who was going to play, I couldn’t quite work it out,” he said.

“So it makes you a lot more comfortable when you watch him yesterday, go and control the game and play a big part in how they won.

“I find it interesting sometimes, the chat around different positions and players and choices. It’s become a circus.

“It’s just a circus around selections these days, it’s hilarious.”

After playing in game one and only featuring for 11 minutes, Hynes was considered by many to be next in line.

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Fittler implied he would’ve liked to have the Dally M medal winner on the bench again but couldn’t afford to not have two hookers, with debutant Reece Robson preferred as an interchange player.

“We just felt after the weekend’s rounds and the way we wanted to play, there was more certainty in getting a second hooker on than getting a versatile player in,” he said.

“There’s more certainty in what we can do with the team, and if things go wrong we’ve got to adapt.”

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