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NSW Blues selection advisor Greg Alexander has stepped down from his role as Brad Fittler fronts the NSWRL board to pitch for a 12-month extension as coach.<\/p>\n
Alexander was brought in as Fittler\u2019s chief confidante when he first took over the Blues set-up in 2018.<\/p>\n
Fittler\u2019s great mate and Panthers premiership-winning teammate announced his decision on Friday morning, before Fittler meets with NSW hierarchy later in the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been six fantastic years, with ups and downs, but that\u2019s Origin, seductive as it is, but I\u2019ve had enough,\u201d Alexander said on his morning show on SEN radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big commitment. Freddy wants to continue and I certainly wish him well … When Freddy asked me if I wanted to go again and you hesitate, it\u2019s not a job you hesitate on.\u201d<\/p>\n
After much conjecture following a 2-1 series loss and immense criticism, Fittler has confirmed he wants to coach on. A 2023 series win would have triggered an automatic 12-month extension in his contract, though the NSW board has been receptive to Fittler coaching on under new terms for 2024, having already heard his series review late last month.<\/p>\n
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The relationship between Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander goes back decades.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>NRL Photos<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve still got the energy, I\u2019ve still got the drive,\u201d Fittler told this masthead recently.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is what it is, I love it, it\u2019s fantastic. It\u2019s a shame [the scrutiny] affects people around you, but that\u2019s life. That\u2019s part of taking the job. The family is supportive, which is great. I love it, I love everything about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Alexander\u2019s exit points to the predicted shake-up of Fittler\u2019s coaching staff after two consecutive series losses since Billy Slater took charge of Queensland.<\/p>\n Slater himself remained coy on his own Origin future during the week as the Storm champion and QRL continue negotiations around whether he coaches on next year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re getting to the pointy end with Billy; there\u2019s a whole lot of moving parts at the moment around both teams and both series,\u201d QRL chief executive Ben Ikin said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still trying to understand what the series schedule will look like next year, how long the camps will be, and we\u2019re working through budgets.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say that at some point before next year\u2019s series, we\u2019ll do a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on <\/b>9Now<\/b>. <\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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