The sticking point that led to Blues legend Brad Fittler quitting as NSW coach was Freddy’s request for a new two-year contract.
The Blues hierarchy only wanted to give Fittler one more year after six years at the helm including losing three of the last four series.
Fox League has been told Fittler even offered to walk away if the Blues failed to end the Maroons dominance next season and lost another series.
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Slater extends as QLD Origin coach | 00:29
But the Blues powerbrokers baulked at Freddy’s request for a two-year extension and some of the other names suggested as his new crew.
It’s been well-documented how chief adviser Greg Alexander has walked away with the likes of assistants Danny Buderus, Andrew Johns and Paul McGregor also tipped to follow suit.
But when Fittler presented to the NSW Rugby League Board and pushed for Phil Gould to be his new chief adviser it caught a number of the Blues powerbrokers by surprise.
But with Fittler quitting it will now give the Blues the chance at a clean slate to find the best possible candidate available.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is one option guaranteed to have enormous support while Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary and Michael Maguire are other options.
The other major issue that led to a flare up was the NSW Rugby League told Fittler he needed to take a hit to his $450,000 plus a year annual salary.
Freddy is normally a composed character but took umbrage at the notion his wage was going to be cut.
The Maroons have seized on the Blues being in disarray by announcing Billy Slater has extended his tenure in charge of Queensland for another three seasons.
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Freddy was awesome when he first started as Blues coach in 2018 but over the course of six seasons some of the team selections and bench rotations became increasingly erratic.
The Blues got a lot wrong and at times it felt like the coaching staff had become paranoid and sensitive to any form of media commentary.
If Panthers coach Cleary wins a third straight premiership and given son Nathan is one of the Blues best players then it makes sense if the Blues were to try and approach Ivan.
Raiders coach Stuart will also have huge support as someone who understands Origin as well as anyone having won series as a player and as a coach.
