Blues to use city as base for Origin

THE NSW Blues will become city slickers once again in 2018.

NSW will abandon their flirtation with training bases on the north coast next season and stay grounded in Sydney.

First used by Laurie Daley in 2014 to escape the pre-Origin pressure-cooker climate of Sydney, new coach Brad Fittler plans to keep his players in Sydney before all three matches next season.

NSW used Kingscliff twice this season before Games One and Three in Brisbane. Before that the Blues based themselves in Coffs Harbour for three years – including the successful 2014 Origin campaign. The Blues will again be on the road twice in 2018 with game one in Melbourne and game three in Brisbane.

But Fittler’s side will remain in Sydney for the bulk of both camps before heading interstate just a few days before each match. It is understood NSW may stay at Kinsgcliff or nearby for just a night or two on the way to Brisbane.

With Sydney’s 2018 Origin match being the stand-alone Sunday night fixture on June 24, both teams will have less than seven days to prepare for the Game Two clash.