Premiership winner to replace Fittler as Blues coach

Michael Maguire looks poised to take the reins of the New South Wales men's State of Origin team after Brad Fittler's exit.The Sydney Morning Herald reports the NSWRL has offered Maguire the job, while other outlets say he has informed his NRL club Canberra he will accept the Blues role.Fittler's six-year tenure in charge of the Blues ended last month when he turned down an offer from the NSWRL which would have seen him become a part-time employee.Maguire, 49, coached South Sydney to the 2014 NRL premiership. He also coached the Wests Tigers for three years, and is currently head coach of New Zealand's Test team.

Knights star Freddy must pick after 'timely reminder'

Bradman Best gave Blues coach Brad Fittler a timely reminder of his skills on the eve of State of Origin III selection with a powerhouse display against the dreadful Dogs yesterday.Best scored three tries — he could have scored five — and had a hand in two others in his team's record 66-0 romp.The Blues have lost Tom Trbojevic through injury and Best put both hands up for the job in emphatic style at Accor Stadium — which will be the scene of the Origin finale on Wednesday week.There are few more intimidating sights in the game than Best in full flight out wide and Queensland will be hoping the strongly-built centre is not selected.That fact alone should make Fittler go with the Knights star as NSW looks to the future in the now-dead rubber.

Freddy's bold Sheens call after 'mashed potatoes' flogging

Blues coach Brad Fittler believes the Wests Tigers may need to revisit their coaching system after a "mashed potatoes" performance against the Cowboys on Saturday night.Six weeks after inflicting a 66-18 defeat on the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval, North Queensland made a 122-point turnaround to win 74-0 in Townsville on Saturday night.Speaking on Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Andrew Johns said the absence of Luke Brooks and Api Koroisau could explain for some loss in performance, but Billy Slater the club needed to "simplify" their game plan when they're without their key players."Luke Brooks and Api Koroisau (are) key players in key positions, and when they aren't there, you need to simplify your game, and build your game around effort and defence," Slater. But Fittler said simplifying their game went beyond on-field plans.After Michael Maguire was sacked last season, the club hired veteran Tim Sheens back into the senior role, with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah in assistant roles with an eye to them eventually succeeding Sheens."You've got an experienced coach then the up-and-coming coach, Benji," he said."I haven't been Tigers training, so can't tell who runs the show there (but) maybe that could be simplified. "It's been a really tough year for the Tigers. Their start was poor. Everyone had high hopes for them over the off season. "Benji hasn't fronted up to the media or hasn't had to speak for the team at all which takes an awful lot of pressure away. What it does do is allow him to wear some of this, maybe come up with some answers and see what the club needs for the future."He doesn't go away battled, you know, or from dealing with this season, especially yesterday's game. That's been left to Tim Sheens."I think it works in that favour but it's not working on the field. What we've seen on the field is just mashed potato. "They're passing the ball coming out of trouble, first tackle, shift, shift, shift. It looks nice but they don't have the fundamentals to apply pressure."Fittler said the club needed to fine-tune "everything .. from the coach all the way down to what their tactics are, then obviously players".The club look set to be without Alex Twal next weekend two, who's facing a one-week ban for a hip drop tackle on Luciano Leilua.The Tigers are seemingly in a two-horse race with the Dragons for the wooden spoon, with the two clubs currently only split on points difference, however the Dragons still have a bye to come.

New job for forgotten coach could save Fittler

Brad Fittler may not be a dead coach walking - just yet.NSW Rugby League will make a decision on Fittler's future after the final Origin game early next month.It has been widely reported Fittler's future is bleak after losing three of the past four series, but Wide World of Sports has learnt the NSWRL is considering a new plan to retain the popular former great.Under the proposed new structure, the NSWRL would create a new position of coaching director to assist Fittler.And in a major shock, the man they are considering for the job is veteran former Steelers, Dragons, Eels, Knights and Roosters coach Brian Smith.A forgotten man on the rugby league landscape, Smith hasn't coach in the big league since being sacked by the Roosters at the end of the 2012 season.But, at age 69, he remains a respected figure in the game with nearly 700 top grade coaching games to his name.Smith would be an ideal mentor for Fittler and a new voice for the players as they attempt to end Queensland's current dominance of the Origin arena.

Fittler's secret Origin 'gamble' revealed

Blues coach Brad Fittler is set to roll the dice and put Origin rookie Reece Robson in his starting side for next Wednesday night's crucial clash with Queensland.Robson has been named on the bench and the Blues were expected to start the game with Souths' Damien Cook at number nine following the loss of Api Koroisau through injury.But Wide World of Sports has learned that Fittler has been training behind closed doors with Cowboys rake Robson in the starting XIII and Cook on the bench.The move is a massive gamble considering Cook is a veteran of 16 Origins since debuting in 2018 and Robson has yet to wear the sky blue jumper.Robson's toughness and durability - he has played every minute of all the Cowboys' 14 games this year - have won over Fittler and his assistant Greg Alexander.Cook is not out of the Blues' plans, however. He has dynamic acceleration and speed out of dummyhalf and Fittler is counting on him to blow the game open against the tiring Queensland forwards when he is thrown into the game, probably late in the first half.There has been speculation about the hooker switch in recent days - but WWOS has been told it will definitely be happening and the Blues are committed to starting with Robson.