FITTLER TO GET JOEY, GUS BACK FOR BLUES
ANDREW Johns and Phil Gould want to join Brad Fittler on the NSW State of Origin staff if he is appointed as the Blues’ new head coach next month.
Fittler is one of four candidates for the role who will be interviewed in the next fortnight, before the NSW Rugby League make a likely announcement at the next board meeting on November 24.
Already considered the front-runner for the job ahead of rumoured candidates David Furner, John Cartwright and Michael Maguire, Fittler yesterday revealed he would bring arguably NSW’s best ever coach and player with him if he was given the position.
“Staff would be part of the discussion, and there are people like Gus and Joey that I’ve spoken to that would love to be a part of NSW going forward,” Fittler said.
Fittler also vowed to use his links and experience from former NSW Origin coaches to help return success to the state if appointed.
“I’ve got a relationship with every coach who has coached NSW going back to Ron Willey (in 1986),” Fittler said.
“John Peard was after that and I’m a good mate of his through the Roosters. Every other coach I’ve been coached by or have been part of their organisation.”
The return of Fittler alongside Gould and Johns was a prospect NSWRL chairman George Peponis admitted would be enticing.
“It’s a good proposition, but as I said we will make that decision,” Peponis said.