Lebanon gig helped Fittler branch out into Blues
HE will now coach NSW’s State of Origin side until 2020 – and Brad Fittler wants to thank a team of rugby league part- timers for his new oneyear Blues contract extension.
News Corp revealed Fittler signed an original two- year deal which included a clause for an automatic third season should he win a series.
After securing a 2- 0 series lead over Queensland in Sydney, the NSWRL board immediately ratified Fittler’s extension.
And Fittler claimed coaching minnows Lebanon into the World Cup quarter- finals last year significantly helped his chances of becoming NSW coach.
The Cedars’ surprise success, Fittler said, erased any “doubt” over capabilities.
“I’ve got to thank the ( NSW) players but, if anything, I most probably have to thank the Lebanese players more than anyone,” Fittler said.
“Without their performance, there was a lot of doubt if I was going to get the job or not.
“What happened, just listening to a lot of things, their his coaching performances sort of took a lot of doubt away.”
Asked was he referring to doubts over his coaching, Fittler said: “Yeah, whatever it was. Just doubt. I don’t know.
“There were other people going for the job too so it had nothing to do with misreading. They ( NSWRL) were in a position to pick someone, they had opinions, assessments, they had to do that sort of stuff.
“The Lebanon thing just worked in my favour. Then these boys ( NSW) coming up and doing what they did. It is a huge thanks to a lot of players.”
Fittler went on to further praise his champion team of Blues.
“You think about the manner in which they did it, to come from behind in both games. It is pretty impressive,” he said.