‘Cheap’ and ‘personal’: Alexander slams attacks on Fittler

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NSW chief adviser Greg Alexander says the targeting of coach Brad Fittler has been “personal” and “cheap”, with much of it focusing on his failure to select Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Josh Addo-Carr in the past, and extending to the non-selection of Nicho Hynes this year.

There is a simple explanation for the apparently mysterious omission of Hynes for Origins II and III.

The naming of Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses in the No.7 and then South Sydney’s Cody Walker in the No.6 for game three has become a lightning-rod moment in this year’s Origin series, prompting the Blues to hit back following attacks on Fittler.

The Blues coach put it very much on the agenda at his press conference on Monday when he said the media was trying to drive a wedge between him and Hynes.

There have been countless stories written about Hynes being dropped after a 12-minute cameo in the centres in Origin I, which included an unfortunate missed tackle on Cameron Munster, which led to the Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow try that gave Queensland the lead late in Adelaide as they went on to win 26-18.

The reason for his non-selection is much simpler than many would want us to believe: the Blues feel his best position is No.7, but he wasn’t going to oust incumbent Nathan Cleary for Origin I and Moses – who played Origin under Fittler in 2021 and in a grand final last year – was considered a better option for game two.

NSW coach Brad Fittler.Credit: Getty

However, the NSW hierarchy liked Hynes’ utility value, and that’s why he was picked on the bench for game one.

Then, when Cleary was ruled out of Origin II with a hamstring injury, NSW felt Hynes, who plays predominantly on the right side of the field for Cronulla, was too similar to Moses – who also plays largely on the right – and that only one could play. They decided to pair Moses with Jarome Luai, who plays predominantly on the left.

Moses did well enough in a poor Blues loss at Suncorp Stadium to keep his position for game three in Sydney, where he will be partnered with Walker, who replaces Luai. Walker plays mostly on the left.

Alexander didn’t want to be drawn on Hynes but was happy to defend Fittler, his mate of three decades.

“I can understand people questioning certain aspects, but when it gets personal, and it is, it’s not acceptable,” he said.

“I think there’s been times when it’s really cheap … when they are ridiculing Freddy’s ethos. Some people hang their criticism on him being different. I mean, the bare feet, so much is made of it. It’s just five minutes of like the end of training and the players like it … doing things a little bit differently.”

He doesn’t want Fittler to fall on his sword and quit after the series.

“I’d like to see him go around again – he’s done so much for this state and he has so much to offer.”

Alexander isn’t ready to go either.

“It has been a privilege to be involved with the best players in the game,” he said. “Spending time with them; it’s an honour to be doing the role that I’m doing … And, yeah, of course you don’t want to let anything go; something that you love doing.”

Titanic struggle

Incoming Gold Coast coach Des Hasler has spoken to stars David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui about remaining with the Titans.

Hasler was not blindsided by news the pair have clauses in their contracts allowing them to become free agents if Justin Holbrook was sacked, which he was on June 22.

Sources with knowledge of the situation have told me Holbrook was aware of the clauses and was happy for them to be added.

It could have been a disincentive to sack him, but the Titans didn’t hesitate in showing him the door. He was not viewed as firm enough with the players after losses.

Disunion rules

Our item last week about the Rugby League Players Association wanting the Kangaroos to get priority payments for international football ahead of Pasifika players has become a far bigger issue amid the union’s media boycott, which was announced on Wednesday.

I received a text message from union boss Clint Newton disputing the piece first thing last Sunday morning, and his take is very different to that of NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo. The RLPA says it wants equal international payments for all players from all nations competing in NRL-run competitions. Tournament and match fees should come from revenue generated from the events and be shared equally, the union says.

As we pointed out, the RLPA does not believe player payments should come from the existing pool revenue generated by the NRL and NRLW competitions. The union says new international tournaments should not be funded by money from the collective bargaining agreement – which is still to be agreed – because they don’t exist in the current broadcast deal.

The RLPA says the NRL is effectively asking international players to pay their own wages, while the NRL can keep all the revenue generated from the additional international games. The RLPA believes the international game deserves its own agreement, which all nations would be party to.

Abdo disagrees with the union’s point of view.

“NRL revenue is not only generated from the NRL and NRLW competitions,” he wrote in an email. “There is a pool of revenue from all sources. The NRL’s forecast revenue over the five-year period [of the proposed CBA] includes all matches played under the auspices of the ARLC across a 12-month calendar, which includes All Stars, NRL, NRLW, State of Origin as well as international matches.

“Most major revenue streams are based on the annual calendar of events and exclusive rights for all rugby league, as opposed to specific matches.”

Abdo says the NRL has already included the revenue from international fixtures in the five-year forecast.

“Therefore, the NRL’s offer to the RLPA for total player payments of $1.347 billion includes the allocation of player payments for international fixtures,” he wrote.

Fading faith in Sheens

Elements of the Wests Tigers executive are now privately conceding they should have done more research before appointing Tim Sheens as coach.

The idea was planted by a News Corp journalist at a lunch designed to get that section of the media to stop criticising the Tigers. The way the journalist went public to claim credit for the decision was highly embarrassing for club bosses.

That Sheens is now under attack from those who suggested his return to Tigertown has left some scratching their heads.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens.Credit: Getty

Sheens will be a figurehead next year as Benji Marshall takes control of the playing style and structure, while Sheens will still have the final say on selections.

The problem for the Tigers is that Marshall is not the finished product as a coach, and while he will have Sheens as a minder, that will only be for another year. Marshall’s inexperience is why former Sharks coach and current Souths assistant John Morris and Justin Holbrook are being touted for senior roles at the club.

Aussie’s $170m deal

We talk a lot about player agents in the NRL in this column, and often not in a good way. Here is a tale that would make them envious.

Australian football agent Nikola Mandic has just done a mega deal for Marcelo Brozovic. Croatia and Inter Milan superstar Brozovic has signed with Saudi Arabia giants Al Nassr, where he will play alongside superstar Ronaldo. To put it into perspective, the combined club contracts of the Socceroos squad at the Qatar World Cup are not worth as much as Brozovic’s deal. His net earnings will be €35 million ($57 million) a year on a three-year contract.

Croatia and Inter Milan superstar Marcelo Brozovic.Credit: Getty

The Mandic name may ring a bell. Nikola’s brother Bernie used to manage Harry Kewell. Long gone are the days of the likes of Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill making regular headlines in Europe and Australia for their winning ways at some of the world’s biggest and best clubs.

Mandic managed eight of the 23 players that took the Socceroos to the final 16 of the 2006 World Cup. At the time, Socceroos players were regular first-team starters in Europe’s elite top five leagues. Now, most weeks it’s a struggle to find one.

Mad Dog

Bulldogs fullback Hayze Perham has turned down the chance of a face-to-face apology from Triple M caller Dan Ginnane following an insulting comment he made during coverage of Canterbury’s 66-0 loss to Newcastle last Sunday.

Perham, his family and the Bulldogs were angry about the comment and expressed their displeasure to the NRL. Ginnane apologised on social media, but the Bulldogs were not satisfied and made an official complaint.

Perham did not see what an in-person apology would achieve and turned down the offer.

Taking no chances

It’s not just Australia’s cricketers who have had extra security at the third Test in Leeds after the drama at Lord’s in the second Test. Channel Nine has hired security for on-ground hosts Mark Taylor and Louise Ransome in light of the anger directed at the Australian team after England’s Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped during the second Test.

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