Fittler demands whitewash

A 3-0 whitewash tonight (8.10pm kick-off) will make New South Wales’ (NSW) series victory one of the best in State of Origin history, but anything less than that is “just another series win”, according to Blues coach Brad Fittler.
On the eve of Origin three, Fittler and captain James Tedesco reflected on the Blues’ turnaround after last year’s shock series loss (1-2) to Queensland.
It’s included a 76-6 aggregate scoreline in enemy territory, heroic defensive plays when the game was already won, and two fullbacks who have starred in the centres to pummel their opposition.

Some believe a whitewash in enemy territory will flush away the pain of Queensland’s eight-year dominance from 2006-2013, but Fittler said this year’s series win won’t rank highly if they can’t do it.

“Until they do that, you just win another series, that’s about it,” he quipped.
Some argue the state’s first two series wins under Fittler didn’t quite have the exclamation mark put on them with a loss in Origin three, 2018, and get-out-of-jail effort – albeit thrilling – in the 2019 decider.
Aside from Tedesco, every player has been handed their NSW debut by Fittler in the past four years and together they’ve experienced the highs and lows.
“When we started the (Hogs for Homeless) bike rides (in 2013), it was around going out and listening to what the people thought,” Fittler said.
“We’re only just starting to get there now (turning the tide). It’s now what we do with it and it starts tin game three.
“People might think it might not matter, but it’s what we do when it doesn’t matter. Since we started four years ago, there were 11 new players and I don’t think we’ve had many go backwards.
“I think you nearly go through every one of our team and show Origin has had a positive effect,” Fittler said.
“I feel the players who have moved out are overtaken by players who want to be in. It becomes a stage they can propel themselves.”
Enter Mitchell Moses. If there’s ever a player under pressure in a match to deliver it’s usually the halfback and despite the Blues being in a comfortable position having won the series, Moses will be heavily under the spotlight on Origin debut.
“It’s up to him,” Fittler said.
“It’s a tricky one for Mitch because the way we play is maybe a bit different to what he does at Parramatta.– NRL