Brad Fittler admitted on Friday that he quit his job as coach of the NSW Blues because being offered a five-month contract "didn't sit well" with him.
But in an indication of the NSW legend's unwavering love of the Blues, he wore a shirt that read "New South Wales Blues" while opening up on the decision.
Fittler spoke to 9News reporter Danny Weidler from his rural property a day after informing NSWRL bosses that he would not be continuing in the role, ending his post after six years.
READ MORE: 'Justin Bieber of league' could make the game millions
READ MORE: The Gould question Freddy can't answer after quitting
READ MORE: Awkward problem caused by Warriors great's return
"It went to a five-month job … It didn't sit well. That's the way they're going to go forward," Fittler said.
"Obviously they have reason for that and I respect that.
"Yeah, always, always," Fittler said when asked if he still had "a passion for the Blues".
"This will never stop that.
"Whoever gets the job from here, I wish them all the luck."
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart and Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy are the front-runners to replace Fittler in the NSW hot seat.
Stuart coached NSW to a 2-1 series win in 2005, and after five years out of the role, the champion Raiders halfback oversaw the Blues in 2011 and 2012. Both of those series resulted in 2-1 Queensland victories.
Bellamy coached the Blues between 2008 and 2010, as the Maroons chalked up a 2-1 series win, a series whitewash and another 2-1 series triumph.
Fittler cast doubt over whether an NRL head coach would be capable of taking on the NSW gig.
"That's up to them. I think anyone could come in and coach a team for a week, but to do it due diligence, to give it the respect it deserves, at the moment I'd say no," Fittler said.
Watch the 2023 NRL grand final exclusively live and free on 9Now
Fittler's take differs to that of Andrew Johns, who gave his opinion on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behavior.
"It feels like the game, the Origin since then [when Stuart coached the Blues], has just gone tenfold, the pressure and everything involved," Johns said.
"But he's been there before, and Canberra, Ricky has Madge, Michael Maguire there, so he'll take over, he'll have the reins of the Raiders.
"But I think it's $1.01; Ricky will get it."
Fittler finished with a record of three series wins and three series defeats.
He lost the last two series as Billy Slater took control of Queensland and came trumps in consecutive years.
Johns said he was "blown away" and "shocked" when he heard Fittler had resigned.
"I was in Newcastle and I was having lunch with mates and it flashed up on the screen," Johns said.
"I was like, 'What? It's got to be a joke'."
He also hit out the critics.
"The pile-on last year on Freddy was unwarranted," said the eighth Immortal.
"Not only on Freddy, on [former Blues advisor] Greg Alexander, too. One thing about Brandy, he fronted up every time and answered all the questions, even though you could see he was seriously pissed off with some of the questions.
"I thought last year the pile-on was extreme and I thought it was personal and I thought it was out of line."
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.