Storm 'burning' for revenge in epic grand final rematch

League great Brad Fittler believes the Storm will be "burning" to avoid repeating the narrative of last year's grand final as they prepare to meet their old foes at home. Melbourne came out on top against the Panthers in the 2020 grand final but were unable to repeat that effort in 2024, falling short 14-6 on the big day. The victory marked the fourth consecutive premiership won and fifth straight grand final appearance by Ivan Cleary's men, and left a sombre feeling in the Storm's locker room. "There's not much I'm gonna say that is going to make this feel any better," coach Craig Bellamy told his team in the sheds after the defeat in October. "Without getting too technical or tactical, they stuck with what they are good at and they won't be budged. Sometimes we tried to do a couple of things that we are probably not so good at. "Let's just celebrate that we won one trophy, the minor premiership ... but that is the big one tonight. "We let an opportunity slip but I need to learn from it, you need to learn from it, we need to learn from it. "It's hard to get to a grand final but as we found out tonight it's harder to win one." The speech by the master coach was one that felt familiar to Fittler, who had experienced both a grand final victory and defeat during his 15-year career. Fittler won his first premiership with Melbourne's foes the Panthers in 1991 before returning to lift the trophy once again in 2002 with the Sydney Roosters. But his success did not dismiss the pain that came with back-to-back premiership defeats in 2003 and 2004. "I won two and lost four," he said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth. "To talk like (Bellamy) did straight after is hard. You're just empty, totally empty. "For hours you are just empty ... it drives you." With a feeling of sadness pushed to the back of their minds, the Storm powered to a 56-18 victory over the Eels to kick off their 2025 season in style. The victory was a warning to all their rivals in the competition as they continued Bellamy's 22-year streak of opening round wins.

Tips: Why Souths player's debut at 28 spells trouble

Andrew Johns was visibly stunned to find out that the Rabbitohs were the bookmakers' favourites to win the NRL season-opener, with the Immortal claiming Manly were specials to pocket the two points after a positive off-season. Previewing the first of the two Las Vegas clashes to be played this Sunday afternoon (AEDT), both Johns and Brad Fittler expected a strong showing from the Sea Eagles, adding that the Rabbitohs would not be at their best due to a backline that's been ravaged by injuries and suspensions. Representative centres Campbell Graham (sternum injury) and Jack Wighton (suspension) are both unavailable to start the season, while 19-year-old gun winger Tyrone Munro is still yet to return from an ankle injury that stopped his pre-season in its tracks in January. That leaves them very thin out wide, with flyer Alex Johnston and superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell the only members of South Sydney's regular back five named to start in Vegas. Back ups Isaiah Tass and Richie Kennar have been named in the centres, while 28-year-old NRL debutant, Jacob Gagai, gets his start on the wing. That spells trouble for the Rabbitohs, according to Johns and Fittler, who are both expecting star Manly recruit Luke Brooks to add firepower to an already dangerous Sea Eagles backline. "Souths are favourites in this one?" Johns said, wearing a stunned look, in the match preview segment of Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth.

Blues shake-up confirmed as Fittler's key man quits

Change is happening at New South Wales' Origin team with Brad Fittler's key right-hand man stepping down.Respected Blues adviser Greg Alexander announced on radio on Friday morning he won't be continuing in the role any longer."I decided last week - I spoke to Freddy last week - that 2023 would be my final State of Origin series," Alexander told SEN's Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy."I know Freddy still wants to coach, still wants the job, so I certainly wish him well on that. But I'm done."After six years, and six I've got to say fantastic years - up and down, but that's Origin - the rollercoaster, seductive as it is to have another go ... I've just decided that that's enough."It's a big commitment, and I've committed elsewhere."Freddy asked me, 'Are you good to go again?', and when you hesitate you know ... it's not a job that you hesitate on."Alexander, 58, claimed he would have quit the job even if the Blues had won this year's series.NSW has lost the last two Origin series to rookie coach Billy Slater and his Queensland side.Fittler has not been given a new contract to coach the Blues, but is reportedly due to meet with NSWRL on Friday.Alexander continues to work with his beloved Penrith, with whom he played 228 games. He was one of the most exciting players to ever strap on a boot, being named the Dally M rookie of the year in 1984, player of the year in 1985, and was three-time halfback of the year.

Joey, Freddy slap down Gus' Latrell suggestion

Phil Gould has called for South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou to move Latrell Mitchell back to the centres in a bid to rectify the Rabbitohs' stalling season.But Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have flatly rejected that idea as the Rabbitohs eye a clash with the Dragons in Cairns on Saturday, in which they'll be desperate to retain their position in the top eight."He's a dynamic centre," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast."He's a dynamic fullback when he puts his mind to it, when the game goes his way."He's got to force himself on the play a little bit more than he does if they want to beat the top sides."The game against the Dragons will mark Mitchell's third match since his return from the calf injury that ruled him out of the entire State of Origin series.He had little impact in his side's 26-16 loss to the Sharks in Perth last Saturday, although it must be noted that hardly a shot was fired by anyone in a red and green jumper over the first hour of the match, which saw Cronulla burst out to a 20-0 lead.Mitchell's career has produced spectacular moments at fullback and in the centres, where he still plays for the Blues and Kangaroos, but his drifting in and out of games has long drawn criticism.If Mitchell was to be moved to the centres, Blake Taaffe — who's worn the No.1 Rabbitohs jumper on a host of occasions — would slot in at fullback.However, Taaffe will be swapping Rabbitohs colours for the Bulldogs strip at the end of the season, having signed a two-year deal with Canterbury."When he does things that are so brilliant we want to see more of it," Gould said of Mitchell."That's where it is. So we're anticipating or thinking he can do more of it. He's kind of a little bit like a Ferrari; he waits for his moment, he waits for his time and he conserves energy until he can sense the moment."And he does that very, very well, but he needs to do more if they're going to beat the top sides."When the idea of Mitchell being shifted from fullback to the centres was put to Johns and Fittler on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and The Eighth, the former Blues and Kangaroos teammates shut it down immediately."It's hard without front-rowers ... Everything comes off the back of your front-rowers, but not only that; your wingers get your sets rolling off kick returns," Johns said.

He's mad - Legend's pick to sort out Dragons mess

Brad Fittler has revealed the man he believes could rescue the Dragons from its current predicament as the club searches for a new coach.In the days leading up to Anthony Griffin's sacking, a representative of current Argentina rugby union coach Michael Cheika approached the Dragons about their interest in the Super Rugby winner - however, the Dragons have since indicated he's not a serious contender.Fittler believes Cheika - who coached Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup - could make an impact at the struggling NRL club."(If) Michael Cheika put up his hand, mate he'd be able to sort out a board," he told Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth."He's mad, got a bit of madness in him."Fittler, who has also previously coached Lebanon as well, believes Cheika's experience with the country could have him primed a joint-venture club like the Dragons."He understands politics because he's grown up with it his whole life through the nature of being Lebanese," he said. "It's unreal, I coached the team, it's hilarious, they're the best but it's tricky."Since the Dragons won the competition in 2010, the club has yet to see any premiership success.Wayne Bennett left in 2011 for the Knights with Steve Price, Paul McGregor, Dean Young (interim) and Griffin all coaching since his departure.The Dragons aren't the only joint venture club to struggle in recent years, with the Wests Tigers also falling on hard times.Rugby league great Andrew Johns said both clubs needed strong figures to take charge saying, "there needs to be a broom through the whole place" when referencing the Dragons."If you've got a strong coach that's the thing, there was probably politics that were going on there (Tigers in 2005) but when you're winning you don't hear from them," he said."The key is you've got to win."Wayne made the big decision (when starting at the Dragons), he said, 'Righto we're training at Wollongong' because before Wayne they used to train between Kogarah and Wollongong."That's what you need, someone to make those strong decisions."Fittler added the problems around the club's board - that's split between members from St George Leagues Club, WIN Corporation and the Illawarra Steelers - played a part when former coach Paul 'Mary' McGregor was sacked."I remember talking to Mary when he lost his job, he got to a top four position and 15 months later he couldn't pick his own team," he said. It's laughable."To think that a board can come in and think that they should be part of picking a team, it's hilarious."

Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns clash on David Nofoaluma's future at Wests Tigers

Brad Fittler has urged David Nofoaluma to return with a positive attitude and impact at the beleaguered Wests Tigers, rather than having his head turned by his stint at the Melbourne Storm.Fittler took aim at the controversial loan system, and said it was no shock that the players who left the Tigers for greener pastures are now seemingly reluctant to return to Concord."I don't like the idea - it just muddies the water straight away already," Fittler said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth."There's a few of these players, Gildart who went to the Roosters, and obviously Nofoaluma. And they're both saying 'we'd love to stay' and now they've got to go back to the club. This was always going to happen."Andrew Johns said that he'd like to see Nofoaluma remain at the Storm permanently, but Fittler was having none of it."The idea is for him to come back with his experience, and be a leader," Fittler said."Two years ago he was talking about getting on our bus, and chanting Tigers. All of a sudden, it's got too hard for him."He should be taking their training principles and bringing them and back and go 'this is what we should accept, and what we shouldn't accept.' It's a good time for him to come back and be a leader - get on the bus Nofa!"The Tigers are at rock bottom right now, and are in the box seat for the first wooden spoon in the joint venture's history.

Klemmer 'absolutely' should've come off

David Klemmer should "absolutely" have come off when directed during the Knights loss to the Bulldogs last week, according to Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns.Klemmer has been left out of the Knights squad to take on the Tigers in Campbelltown on Sunday afternoon after he gave a trainer a gobful and refused to come off the park for a substitution.Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth, Fittler said he had never had the situation arise while he's been coaching, and if it did, he would "make a stand"."That's your job - your job is to coach, and the players are to listen and do their best under that guidance," he said.He said it was "absolutely" a droppable offense.Andrew Johns agreed, saying players have to "put the team first".Just a day earlier on his podcast Six Tackles with Gus, Phil Gould said he believed there was more to the story, and that it wouldn't be uncommon for a senior player to refuse to come off."I don't know how many occasions where it wouldn't be the case that you ask someone to come off the field - particularly a senior player - and he says, 'No go away'. (He) certainly wouldn't be the first trainer to cop a gobful off a player," he said.

Legends' ultimatum to desperate $1M NRL exile

Rugby league legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have a simple message for exiled star Anthony Milford as he desperately strives to revive his NRL career.The 27-year-old is in limbo after he was charged with assault in September, but those charges are expected to now be dropped.Milford had signed a one-year deal with South Sydney before he was arrested. The NRL refused to register the contract following the police charges, but it's understood the Rabbitohs may have moved on now anyway.The playmaker has now been linked to a move to the Knights, whose halves depth is low following the departure of Mitchell Pearce.Milford was once considered the most talented playmaker in the NRL. It was the reason Brisbane made him the club's richest ever player, handing him $1 million a season to be their main man.But the last couple of years have seen a sad decline in his on-field performance. The Broncos cut him loose, having dropped him to reserve grade during the 2021 season.But with potentially years of football left in his body, Milford is desperate to get back in the NRL.Newcastle legend Johns has returned to the Knights this year in a coaching consultancy role.On Wide World of Sports' Freddy and The Eighth, Johns was asked about the club's links to Milford."I have no idea," Johns said.