Embattled Blues coach Brad Fittler may keep his job yet, with New South Wales Rugby League reportedly considering a radical proposal.
Fittler is under huge pressure having lost five of his past six games in charge and three of the past four series.
The former champion player is staring down the barell of the Blues’ first series whitewash in 13 years when the sides meet for a dead rubber on July 12.
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NSWRL will make a decision on Fittler’s future after the game but have ruled out replacing him with an NRL coach, claiming the job is too big these days.
Either Fittler will be sacked or under a proposed new structure, the NSWRL will appoint a coaching director to assist Fittler.
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The board are considering making that man former Dragons, Eels, Knights and Roosters coach Brian Smith, according to WWOS.
Smith coached 679 first-grade games between 1984 and 2016 but hasn’t coached in the NRL since the Roosters sacked him for Trent Robinson in 2012.
The 69-year-old would play a mentoring role for Fittler who appears to have needed some guidance in recent years with several left-field selections.
Whichever way they go, NSW must do something because Queensland coach Billy Slater looks like he’s about to build another dynasty.
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