'Ask them': The Gould question Freddy can't answer

Brad Fittler admits he doesn't know whether the suggestion of bringing Phil Gould into Blues camp spooked NSWRL bosses.

Fittler spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald about his decision to walk away from the New South Wales coaching job, having dropped the State of Origin bombshell on Thursday.

9News journalist Danny Weidler revealed the NSWRL was essentially offering a part-time role, while Fittler wanted a two-year contract that included his community work and promoting the game.

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The two could not come to an agreement, resulting in Fittler opting to call it quits after six years in charge of the Blues.

"It just didn't marry with how I thought I could best do the job," Fittler told the Herald.

"It was all very polite and respectful, I certainly wish them well going forward. What they were asking and what I was asking didn't marry.

"There was an opportunity there, but it didn't suit me in the best way I thought I could do the job. They had a different vision for how the coach would look going forward.

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"I think they will concentrate on the job of just coaching the team. You would have to ask them (NSWRL) why they are going in that direction. That's not for me to answer."

It's been widely suggested the NSWRL was taken aback by the suggestion from Fittler to bring Gould – NSW's most successful ever Origin coach – back into the fold.

His plan was to revamp the coaching and support staff, with chief advisor Greg Alexander quitting his Blues role last week.

"You would have to ask them that," Fittler said when asked if Gould's return had spooked the decision makers.

"It would have been great, Laurie Daley was going to assist. Having Gus [Gould] back, I thought was a great idea. Ivan (Cleary), we spoke about him doing a similar role to last year.

"I thought it was a pretty good team. I just wanted the players to meet them, a lot of them wouldn't know Laurie or Gus either."

Penrith coach Cleary sat in the coaches box for game three of this year's series, which the Blues won.