NSWRL boss backs Fittler to lead Blues back to Origin glory

The Blues might have been stunned by a typical never-say-die Queensland outfit in last month’s State of Origin decider, but rugby league has never been in better shape in New South Wales.

These are the thoughts of NSWRL CEO David Trodden, who continues to oversee massive growth in the game across his state.

Despite the effects of COVID and ongoing wet weather throughout winter, Trodden is delighted with participation numbers and attendances to NSW Cup games.

And he believes Brad Fittler is still the man to lead the Blues forward, despite the star-studded NSW team being upset by the Maroons in yet another famous Queensland series victory last month.

In a wide-ranging interview with BettingSite.com.au, Trodden expressed confidence that the 13-man football code in NSW will only continue to prosper.

“Our participation numbers last year were at a record level,” he said.

“And this year we’re at a point of almost matching them. So that’s outstanding coming off two COVID-interrupted seasons.

“And at the start of the season we had those bad weather events, and that was at a bad time when people were registering.

“So to be level with where we were last year is a great outcome. That again demonstrates the strength of the game, and it sets us apart from some of the other sports who have struggled with participation due to COVID and other reasons.

“We’ve introduced some new competitions in western NSW which are going well, so everything is healthy.

“The only downside is we lost the State of Origin series.”

Not that Trodden is panicking too much about that.

Since taking over in 2018, Blues coach Fittler has won three of five series following Queensland’s remarkable run of 11 Origin titles in 12 years.

As well as boasting a winning record of eight wins and seven losses at the helm of NSW, Fittler has worked tirelessly to promote the game and oversee junior pathways across the state.

Trodden believes a lot of this work has gone unnoticed.

“Freddy’s been outstanding. People should never underestimate the work he does beyond State of Origin,” he said.

“He works for us 12 months a year and State of Origin is a big part of that. But the stuff he does to engage communities, particularly in regional NSW – you have to see it to understand it.

“He’s a courageous sort of guy who’s really underestimated. He was subject to a bit of criticism after Origin III, but after Origin II he was the greatest coach around.

“He’s been nothing but outstanding for NSWRL.”

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What has also impressed Trodden has been the strong crowds at NSW Cup games this year, with foundation clubs Newtown and North Sydney leading the way.

The Jets, who lead the ladder, drew over 8,000 spectators to their Round 20 win over the Rabbitohs.

The Bears have also brought in good numbers all season as the high demand continues for the red-and-black team to be reinstated into the NRL.

“What I love is to see days like this,” Trodden said after the Jets beat the Rabbitohs 42-18 at historic Henson Park on July 30.

“What days like this do is they really emphasise how important community connections are through our game, and how strong rugby league is outside of the NRL.

“I reckon games like this are a fantastic advertisement for our game.

“I reckon everybody involved in rugby league walks away with a degree of pride when they see what’s happened.”

Trodden is happy with the case the Bears continue to build as they strive to play their first NRL game since becoming a casualty of the Super League war in 1999.

“The Bears are one of our foundation clubs. Those decisions (reinstatement into the NRL) are above my pay grade. They’re one of the key components of NSWRL and I hope they always will be,” Trodden said.

“Newtown and Norths are great examples of how second-tier football can be marketed to the community so successfully.

“They do a great job – an afternoon at North Sydney Oval is great.

“The other thing the Bears have done really well is they were one of the first teams on board with a women’s team in our women’s competition.

“So they’re involved in all levels of our pathways. They’re a really well-run club.”

Kaiviti Silktails – the club which Fijian and Queensland legend Petero Civoniceva is chairman of – could join famous brands Newtown and North Sydney in the NSW Cup in a few years.

“Next year, when they can play home-and-away games, I think you’ll really see them take off,” Trodden said.

“They’ll really add quite a bit to the Ron Massey Cup competition with their home-and-away games.

“Our longer-term aspiration is to get them into the state cup competition.

“And that’ll add the same sort of dynamic to this competition that PNG adds to the Queensland Cup.”

Trodden said the Fijian outfit – which finished sixth and just missed out on a finals berth in the Ron Massey Cup – overcame plenty of challenges this season.

“The Silktails have had a difficult introduction because COVID hit just when they started,” he said.

“The idea was they were always going to play home-and-away.

“So it’s been really difficult for them having a whole lot of young guys being away for six months of the year.

“It’s been really challenging for them. But they’ve performed quite well given those constraints.”

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