Brad Fittler’s time coaching New South Wales will be over if the Blues don’t win at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.
The man dubbed “Freddy” has to win this State of Origin series, or his contract with the NSWRL will end and the process will begin to find a new coach before next year.
Fittler’s first series in the top job was 2018. He won his first two series in charge, and has won three of five to date but has agreed to step down from the role if NSW doesn’t win this year.
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His future is now on life support following a 26-18 loss at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.
The Blues head to enemy territory in a fortnight’s time, where they have historically struggled to win.
“It’s a contractual thing, that’s a fact and the nature of coaching,” Fittler told The Sydney Morning Herald of his future.
“There’s no hiding from it.
“This is my biggest challenge, absolutely, as a player or a coach. But I’m good.
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“We’ll be right. It’s a case of we need to make history. It’s as simple as that.”
The Blues won at Suncorp Stadium in 2021 to clinch that series in game two, but it’s no secret the southern state has an abysmal record at the Brisbane fortress.
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“It’s just a hard place to win,” Fittler admitted.
“You get nothing up there. It’s difficult. They rise, the crowd is hostile and bring the best out of their players.
“We’re now in this situation. We need to regroup, wait two weeks, then find a healthy team. We just didn’t rise on Wednesday night.”
If the Blues can win game two, Sydney will host the series decider.
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