‘Important story to tell': Fittler discusses Kangaroos ambition as Johns offered selector role
Brad Fittler knows that the next Kangaroos coach is about to experience something unforgettable.
'What's lost in all of this, it's been a long time since we've seen a Great Britain jersey,' said Fittler, the leading candidate to replace outgoing Australian coach Mal Meninga.
'A lot of players are unaware of the significance of Kangaroo tours and the place they have held in the game for a long time. That's a big part of it.
'I know there's a lot of stuff going on with eligibility, and Origin is so important to the game. Once Origin is over, talking about Kangaroo tours and their significance in the game will be a pretty important story to tell.'
Fittler recently met with NRL officials about his interest in the Australian job, with an official appointment likely to be made after the second State of Origin game.
Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns has already been approached to join the Kangaroos selection panel as a replacement for NSW coach Laurie Daley, who sat on last year's panel alongside former Australian captains Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith and Boyd Cordner.
If Fittler gets the coaching gig, it would round out an incredible footballing curriculum vitae that includes two premierships – as well as glory at state and international level – as a player, plus coaching the Roosters and then NSW to series wins with the clipboard.
Fittler's love affair with Kangaroos tours began when he became the youngest player ever, at just 18, to be selected for one, in 1994. He also toured England with the national team in 1994 and 2001, the latter campaign as captain.
The famous at the end of the NRL season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
22 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Bernard Tomic pulls off incredible Mallorca qualifying double to return to ATP Tour main draw
Australian tennis veteran Bernard Tomic is celebrating a return to the top after qualifying for an ATP Tour event for the first time since 2021. The 32-year-old pulled off an impressive double on the grass courts of Mallorca, claiming upset wins over world No.93 Jesper De Jong and world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic to reach the main draw. He had not beaten a top-100 rival since February 2023. Tomic, the world No.243, has been an ATP Challenger and third-tier ITF circuit regular and last played an ATP Tour-level event when he qualified for the 2021 Australian Open. He will face fellow Australian Rinky Hijikata in the first round at Mallorca. Mallorca will be the high point of the grass season for Tomic, who was in the mix for the Wimbledon qualifying draw before pulling out to focus on the Spanish event. Tristan Schoolkate will lead a 16-strong Australian contingent seeking Wimbledon places — and lucrative pay packets — this week. With 13 Australians (eight man and five women) already guaranteed in the main draw next week, Ilkley Trophy winner Schoolkate will spearhead the challenge to join them in the cut-throat qualifying tournament at nearby Roehampton. Players will have to come through three qualifying matches at the venue 5km from the All England Club to nail down one of the coveted 16 places in each of the singles draws a week on Monday. Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a £66,000 ($A137,000) pay day even if he or she loses in the first round. Schoolkate, who earned the biggest win of his burgeoning career at the picturesque Challenger event in Ilkley that likes to dub itself the 'Wimbledon of the North', has moved to 102nd in the rankings and is seeking a maiden appearance at the grass-court slam. The 24-year-old, second seed for the qualifying event, opens on Monday against Argentine world No.198 Facundo Diaz Acosta. Last year, Alex Bolt had just 10 minutes notice as an alternate that he would be a late replacement in the qualifying draw and went on to surprise everyone, not least himself, by going on to battle into the main draw. This year, somewhat better prepared, the 32-year-old Murray Bridge veteran will face Frenchman Harold Mayot first up, hoping to make the main draw for a fourth time. Four other Aussie men — Li Tu, Jason Kubler, James McCabe and Omar Jasika — will also open their bids on Monday while the world No.1 junior Emerson Jones will lead the women's qualifying challenge that begins on Tuesday. Jones, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, will be joined in the draw by Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon, Daria Saville, Astra Sharma, Destanee Aiava, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur is not in action in any of the final pre-Wimbledon grass-court events after his early exit at Queen's Club. But seven SW19-bound Australians will feature in the final warm-up tournaments this week, including Tomic. James Duckworth beat British wildcard Johannus Monday 6-4 6-2 and Aleksandar Vukic downed American Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-3 to book their places in the Eastbourne International men's main draw. Kim Birrell also made it to the traditional seaside event, defeating Anna Bondar 6-2 6-3 in Eastbourne qualifying, to join the country's top pair, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint, in the women's event. Ajla Tomljanovic, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, beat Germany's Eva Lys, who retired when 6-4 3-2 down, to make it into the Bad Homburg WTA main draw.
9 News
22 minutes ago
- 9 News
Australian influencers enlisted for anti-vaping campaign
Several Australian influencers, celebrities and athletes have been enlisted by the Australian government for an anti-vaping campaign.
Perth Now
30 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Dalton's stellar sports career dimmed by back injury
With a sporting career inspired by Cathy Freeman, fellow Olympic gold medallist and multi-sports star Chloe Dalton has been forced to retire due a back injury. Part of the champion women's sevens rugby team at the 2016 Rio Games, Dalton also played AFLW for both Carlton and GWS over seven seasons, running out for 32 games. Demonstrating her versatility and skill, she also played in the WNBL before switching her focus to rugby sevens. Requiring back surgery after an injury ended her 2024 season with the Giants, Dalton said she's failed to recover sufficiently to resume her career. "Retired. After a second back surgery nine months ago, my body hasn't bounced back to the point where I can play footy again," the 31-year-old posted on social media. "It's been a tricky process trying to come to terms with the fact that my sporting career has finished through injury." Dalton posted a series of photos and told the story of her sporting journey; how she was determined to win an Olympic gold medal after watching Freeman's triumph at the Sydney Games. When realising she wasn't good enough to make the Australian basketball team she set her sights on sevens. "I went onto Google and typed in lists of Olympic sports," Dalton wrote. "Rugby sevens would be in the Olympics for the first time in 2016. I had just 2.5 years to learn how to play rugby and secure myself a ticket on that plane to Rio. "... That seven year old girl got to stand on the podium and have her very own Olympic gold medal put around her neck." Dalton said that she then saw AFLW on television and, although she didn't know the rules, wanted to play. Joining the Blues in 2018, she was part of Carlton's grand final team a year later. She decided to switch back to sevens to compete at the Tokyo Olympics but shattered her cheekbone four weeks out from the Games. After launching The Female Athlete Project, which is a platform to highlight the sporting achievements of women, she then resumed her AFLW career with GWS but injuries restricted her to just 16 games across four seasons. After announcing her retirement the Giants congratulated Dalton her achievements and contribution. "Chloe's impact both on and off the field for the Giants has been profound and she'll leave a lasting legacy with her teammates, coaches and staff," GWS women's football boss Alison Zell said.
