Brent Read joined The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude & Wendell after NSW Blues’ win over Queensland Maroons in State of Origin Game III.
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Yet, the series was already over as Queensland had won the first two games, much noise throughout this Origin period has been around the future of Blues head coach Brad Fittler.
Consecutive losses has put the Blues legend in the firing line.
Though, Read explained how last night’s impressive 24-10 victory may have saved Freddy’s job.
‘I spoke to Paul Conlon, the chair of NSW rugby league,’ said Read.
‘They’ll go through the series and everything that unfolded.
‘I imagine in 4-6 weeks we’ll have some sort of clarity around Brad Fittler’s future.
‘We got a glimpse into the future last night.’
Ready continued, stating that a shock call of adding Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary into the coaches box may be the future path for NSW.
‘If Freddy wants the job I think he should try convince Ivan Cleary to come along for the journey.
‘When Freddy was really good as an Origin coach, Craig Fitzgibbon, Fitzy was right there beside him.
‘He hasn’t had Fitzy there for a few years.’
Cleary has steered the Panthers to three straight grand finals, back-to-back premierships within that and is the coach and father of one of the best players in the game Nathan Cleary.
Cleary, junior, infamously struggled in Game 1 of this year’s series, and faced a lot of critisim for the deciding Game 3 in 2022.
Many have questioned his ability to replicate his Panthers form into a Blues jersey, yet perhaps Ivan could be the man to get it out of his son.
‘Ivan was with him last night and it showed the benefit of having a guy in the NRL and in the system, he’s [also] a really smart coach.
‘If Freddy was to turn around to NSWRL tomorrow and say, I want to do the job again and Ivan is committed to do it with me, if I’m them I’d jump at that opportunity,’ explained Read.
‘That’s what Freddy has to work on in the next few weeks.
‘Work on a package that NSWRL agrees with.’