Fittler, Slater quit as Kangaroos selectors before picking a team
State of Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Billy Slater have walked away from their new roles as Kangaroos selectors for the World Cup – just weeks after the Australian Rugby League Commission named them in the position.
Just three months out from Australia’s World Cup defence, the NSW Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League have told the NRL the Origin bosses are reluctant to have a formal role in helping choose Mal Meninga’s squad for the tournament in the United Kingdom.
It’s a major U-turn for the ARLC, with NRL head of football Graham Annesley writing to the respective states on the eve of this year’s Origin series about Fittler and Slater joining the Kangaroos’ selection panel.
But in correspondence with their employers this week, both Fittler and Slater have indicated their reluctance to be involved.
Instead, previous Australian selectors Laurie Daley and Darren Lockyer are poised to return to the roles they held before the Fittler-Slater saga, provided both accept nominations from their states.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys will act as the chairman of selectors under a decade-old constitution clause and have a casting vote on any selection deadlocks.
Queensland coach Billy Slater and NSW boss Brad Fittler.Credit:Getty Images
The NRL asked World Cup organisers if they could delay the naming of a 50-man Kangaroos provisional squad due on June 22 to allow Fittler and Slater to finish their Origin commitments before meeting at the selection table.
Other countries have already forwarded their extended lists to World Cup officials.
It’s another twist on the road to the World Cup for Meninga, who will still have a large say over the make-up of his final squad, if not a formal vote at the selection table. The Kangaroos haven’t played a Test match since 2019.
According to sources familiar with the situation, both Fittler and Slater had reservations about deciding on players who they would then have to potentially coach in a future Origin series, as well as juggling media and personal commitments.
Meninga is still waiting formal notification from a number of Samoan-eligible Origin stars such as Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Junior Paulo and Josh Papali’i as to whether they will wear the green and gold in the World Cup. NSW winger Brain To’o has already pledged his allegiance to Samoa.
Roosters firebrand Victor Radley will turn his back on future lucrative Origin paydays to represent England in the World Cup.
While Fittler and Slater have turned down the chance to be part of the Kangaroos’ selection panel, the respective women’s state coaches will help choose the Jillaroos squad.
NSW coach Kylie Hilder and Queensland counterpart Tahnee Norris have been put forward to choose Australia’s roster for the women’s World Cup.
Australia’s men start their World Cup campaign against Fiji at Headingley on October 15, while the Jillaroos play the Cook Islands at York on November 2.
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