{"id":334546,"date":"2023-09-28T05:42:30","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T05:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=334546"},"modified":"2023-09-28T07:01:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T07:01:34","slug":"fittler-makes-sudden-call-to-quit-as-nsw-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=334546","title":{"rendered":"Fittler makes sudden call to quit as NSW coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

B\ufeffrad Fittler<\/a> has quit as coach of the NSW Blues<\/a> just days after pitching to the NSWRL board in a bid to receive a new contract.<\/p>\n

Fittler was offered\ufeff an extension to remain in the role after meeting NSWRL bosses last week, but on Thursday he told them he was walking out on the job.<\/p>\n

The decision also comes just days after the prospect arose of Fittler and Phil Gould linking up in an official capacity\ufeff, which Gould addressed on Nine's 100% Footy<\/em> on Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

LIVE UPDATES:<\/strong> NRL grand final teams 2023<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Gould is the most powerful figure in rugby league, so the thought of him taking on a Blues role may have spooked NSWRL bosses.\ufeff<\/p>\n

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and Storm mentor Craig Bellamy are among the candidates to replace Fittler.<\/p>\n

"The board understands and respects his decision," said NSWRL chairman Paul Conlon.<\/p>\n

"Freddy was a legend as a player and returned to coach the team at a time when his state needed him.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"He enjoyed immediate success and his series win in 2021, which included record scorelines in Townsville and Brisbane, will go down in NSW Blues history.<\/p>\n

"He also contributed through other programs including his Hogs motorcycle rides in regional NSW which played a big part in uniting the state.<\/p>\n

"He holds a special place in NSW rugby league history."<\/p>\n

Fittler said he "loved doing the job" and would "always love NSW".<\/p>\n

Since taking on the job in 2018, Fittler won three series and lost three. He lost the last two series 2-1, with Billy Slater becoming Queensland coach and coming up trumps in consecutive years.<\/p>\n

The NSW coaching\ufeff staff has changed enormously since the completion of this year's series, with Greg Alexander, Paul McGregor, Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus all stepping down.<\/p>\n

Gould explained on 100% Footy<\/em> how talk of he and Fittler combining forces at the Blues had come about.\ufeff<\/p>\n

"He has never really asked for much in his life and he rang me last week to say Greg Alexander was stepping down from his role [and] that he would like me to get involved with the Blues," Gould said.<\/p>\n

\"Freddy's<\/p>\n

"I think it is only simply to talk to him and whatever he needs.<\/p>\n

"He really didn't explain to me what he wants me to do.<\/p>\n

"I am certainly not chasing a job, I am not looking for a job.<\/p>\n

"He was talking about a paid position \u2014 I am certainly not chasing a paid position with NSW Rugby League.<\/p>\n

"He is yet to be appointed, that comes this week.<\/p>\n

"He spoke to me about his plans for other people he is going to bring into the coaching staff and inner sanctum around Origin.<\/p>\n

"It is important for the Blues because they have lost two [series] in a row. You can't go on like that \u2014 they have to get a win. He needs a win."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

B\ufeffrad Fittler has quit as coach of the NSW Blues just days after pitching to the NSWRL board in a bid to receive a new […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":334548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334546"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=334546"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":334551,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334546\/revisions\/334551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/334548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=334546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=334546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=334546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}