Phil Gould recommends Brad Fittler make some tweaks to his staff to revive the Blues’ Origin chances, while declaring the current coach is “the only man for the job.”
Fittler was upstaged by Queensland’s Billy Slater, who began his coaching journey in 2022, leading the Maroons to consecutive series wins, without any experience in the NRL ranks.
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Yet Gould has urged Fittler to recruit a current NRL coach to help reach the players, in a bid to revive the Blues hopes of capturing the series next year.
Fittler’s surprise decision to have Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, the mastermind behind the Panthers’ back-to-back premierships, in the Blues’ coaches box in the dead rubber game, led to questions about Cleary’s involvement, and how much that played into the Blues’ 24-10 victory.
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Cleary was in the Blues’ control room during the match, alongside assistants Paul McGregor and Danny Buderus, as well as adviser Greg Alexander, and was seen smiling through the Blues’ most dominant performance of the series.
While Cleary’s presence might lead conspiracy theorists to suggest the Penrith mentor is the next man in line to lead NSW, Gould is adamant having Cleary in the set up proved something else.
“The one tweak Brad Fittler should make is have a current NRL coach on his staff even if it’s only an advisor,” Gould said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“I relate it to the time I coached Origin. I coached Origin for five years, I was coaching club teams.
“I was coaching the Panthers and Roosters at that time, and coaching Origin as well. And then the next time I came back I was director of coaching at the Roosters.
“I was still in the coaching environment, it helped. I can’t imagine not being a club coach and then be thrown these games in the middle of the year like they’re being asked to do.”
Slater’s coaching staff consists of Queensland greats Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith, along with current Sharks assistant Josh Hannay. Nate Myles and Allan Langer are also be part of the Queensland support team.
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Gould, who declared Fittler the only man for the NSW head coaching role, believes the lack of connection to the NRL coaching world, cost the Blues defensively in the opening two games.
“It took NSW three games to get their defensive connection right. They defended much better in game three than they did in the first two games.
“That’s where they lost it. Their defence wasn’t good enough in the first two games.
“I don’t know what Ivan’s role was but I’ve said before they needed a club coach, even if it they’re just a sounding board.
“I don’t know what goes on in there and the selection process, but Ivan has the top team in the comp and his players are in there, it could very well be valuable to have someone like that.”
Gould added: ”With all the people he (Fittler) has around there, who are all good people, like Danny Buderus and Greg Alexander and all these great people.
“You’ve still got to have some connection with what these players are doing, training, what they’re about in club football.
“The language they use, the structures they run, the defensive communication that they have. it makes a difference.”
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