Queensland has taken Game I of this year’s State of Origin series, and fans have been quick to point the finger at a variety of players. ‘Latrell had a shocker’, ‘Cody Walker’s defence was poor’, ‘Nathan Cleary can’t control an Origin game’. And while some of the criticism runs true, there’s only one person to blame for New South Wales’ loss - Brad Fittler.
Fittler has had the Blues’ fans won over as soon as the 2018 Origin series began. His relaxed and quirky demeanour towards the game, picking players based on form and not whether they’d be there before or not, and who could forget his barefoot walks to ‘soak up the minerals’.
Winning the series didn’t hurt either.
But on Wednesday night, Freddy had his first off night as a State of Origin coach. A host of baffling decisions from the head coach cost his side dearly, and has New South Wales down 0-1 to start the series.
The decision to player David Klemmer for 52 straight minutes, then to have him sat on the bench for the final half hour of the game is a ludicrous decision. The Newcastle prop is a man that inspires his teammates. As a Blues player, when the game is close and it’s the dying minutes, looking across to see the towering front-rower gives you confidence, it boosts you.
He was far and away the Blues’ best forward. But in hindsight, Fittler is going to regret his game management here. To put it simply, he should’ve played Klemmer for the opening 35 minutes, taken him off, then unleashed him around the 60-65th minute mark.
In Origin, or for any football game, you want your best players on the park at the end of a game, and New South Wales didn’t do that.
Tyson Frizell was extremely dominant on the right edge during the opening half hour of the contest. He was subbed off, but it wasn’t until the 70th minute when Fittler threw the tough-as-nails back-rower into the contest. Whether that was due to an interrupted lead up to the game for Tyson is yet to be seen.
However, the biggest error Fittler made was the decision to take Cody Walker off at around the 50th-minute mark. The Blues led 8-6 at the time.
Jack Wighton enters the game in his place, and throws the intercept that hands Queensland their first lead of the night. They never trailed again.
Walker is a ‘confidence player’. When he plays good football, his self-belief grows and he backs himself more and more. The bounce of the ball always goes your way when that’s your mentality.
Getting subbed off in your debut Origin as a five-eighth is shattering. Especially when your side is in the lead. All the confidence Walker has built up over the opening 11 games of the season would’ve just about vanished in that moment.
He was thrown back into the contest with 10 on the clock. He exited the field with his team in front 8-6, and when he returned to the field his side trailed 18-8. The South Sydney livewire did well to set up a try for Jake Trbojevic in the final minutes, but it was too little too late.
You can say Cody Walker didn’t play well enough. You can say Nathan Cleary didn’t have control over that game at all. You blame a lot of players, and you’d probably be right.
But it all comes back to Brad Fittler’s game management. He’ll learn from this, he’ll axe a few players. Tom Trbojevic will almost certainly replace Nick Cotric. He won’t play Klemmer for 52 straight minutes and he won’t bench his five-eighth.
But he must take responsibly for this loss. His bench management cost his team more than any individual players did. If the Blues are to win this series, then it’s up to Freddy to learn from his errors, and ensure the shield remains south of the border.
To the author….your article is spot on!…Fittler has to shoulder the blame for the loss….his selection of out of form players (Cleary, Critchon) and his bench management was pathetic….BUT he wont take any blame for the loss…his ego wont allow for it
I’d start Murray next game at lock and have Trbojevic on the bench, we just seen what happened with one middle on the bench and we messed up the rotation. Haas and Trbojevic off the bench as props would be better. Turbo comes straight into the side for me and so does Pearce or Maloney.
1. Tedesco
2. Addo-Carr
3. Mitchell
4. Morris
5. Trbojevic
6. Pearce/Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Vaughan
11. Cordner
12. Frizell
13. Murray
14. Wighton
15. Haas
16. Trbojevic
17. Crichton
Or 14. Radley/Matterson
Agree totally – also you don’t bench your 5/8 when you are IN FRONT ever – he brings him back on and sets up a try but he burned 2 interchanges in the process which would have allowed him to bring back on Klemmer.
Also you do not talk live to the Channel 9 commentators during the game as you are the Coach NOT a Channel 9 commentator.
Fittler will be a one series wonder, lose the 2nd series – just like Fatty Vautin – and will go back to commentating IMO
State of Origin coaching is not successful long term for ex-players that are TV personalities / commentators
Crichton, walker and Wighton to go IMO. Bring in Matterson for Crichton but for the other two I’m not sure. Wish keary was good to go be again would be a walk up start. We looked really bad and lost our way in the second half this has been the way for 10 years if something doesn’t change QLD will just build another dynasty
1. Tedesco
2. Trbojevic
3. Mitchell
4. Morris
5. Addo-Carr
6. Keary/Pearce (Keary if it)
7. Cleary/Pearce (Cleary if Keary not fit)
8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Vaughan
11. Cordner
12. Frizell
13. Trbojevic
14. Walker/Radley
15. Haas
16. Murray
17. McLean/Finucane
2 important points, first the roosters left edge of Cordner Keary and Mitchell is a big must. Would have a much better defence and attack. Keary also helps take pressure of Cleary as he can kick. Secondly, need to have another bench prop in either Finucane or McLean cause Haas can’t do it all by himself. These two are big body forwards who will work really hard and make lots of tackles. I’d also have either Radley or Walker off the bench for there much needed impact they would bring.
Mitchell Pearce should chosen in the form he is in. He has shown to be no good against a dominate QLD side but he would go much better now helping lead the side. DCE had similar issues playing in the past QLD team and now he looks right at home playing state of O think Pearce would do the same.
Fittler was a useless coach at the Roosters and carries that onto the Blues .
A big bunnies fan and Cody is a great player having a wonderful year but SOO is another level. Had my reservations from his selection and having a myth in Cleary being selected with the year he has had added to my concern .
Cody let no one down . He was a first gamer and now is fodder due to the loss, which in no way he contributed too . As a first gamer you are going to be awestruck go into a shell , let the experienced guys do their thing and ensure , yes ensure you have a mistake free game . He never asserted himself or take the game on as you can at club level . He made a couple of half breaks , probably kicked to himself a couple of times, sent a good to Mitchell who refused to attack on the last and set up a late try .
He defended on a side where latrell was missing and where Addo Carr had to chase repeatedly alone without the bloke missing inside of him . Walker had what , 5 games of SOO experience outside of him and Latrell not turning up made his debut disastrous.
In saying all of this , should have been hooked, should his k nob of a coach single him out after the game and cope all this crap when he was thrown in the deep end .
Do I believe he is SOO quality, NO . Would he have done better if Latrell had aimed up , Yes . Was the loss his fault , NO. Would he have looked better with assistance from an in-form halfback not a myth , YES .
Queensland won the game through their defence between the 45-65 minute mark . They battered the Blues again . They grew another leg , as the do . Qld won the game , Cody didn’t lose it
Also can someone please tell me what Boyd Cordner brings to the side besides being Mr reliable. Follows a lot of Mr reliables , before him it was Josh Jackson , Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan and so on . He doesnt bring much to the attack and never leads by example.. Mr reliable might not lose you to many games but never wins you any.
Keary is likely to miss the whole series, hence why I didn’t include him in my squad. But I forgot about Finucane and McLean, I think the men to miss out in game 2 have to be Walker, Wighton and maybe Crichton. Like your ideas too, it makes sense and hopefully Freddy wakes up.
Cody walker just isn’t a big player, he just can’t handle pressure. That probably why he didn’t debut in the nrl until he was 26.