Leading rugby league journalists Danny Weidler and Dave Riccio say the bigger media presence in Sydney and the Blues recent struggles could be what’s making NSW coach Brad Fittler feel his side is getting harsher treatment than his Queensland counterparts.
Fittler has implied that New South Wales media is harder on his side than Queensland media is on the Maroons, but Weidler and Riccio put that down to Queensland’s recent success and sheer size of the media space in NSW.
HEAR WEIDLER AND RICCIO DISCUSS BRAD ‘FREDDY’ FITTLER’S COACHING FUTURE ON THE LATEST EPISODE OF FOOTY TALK:
“I don’t think ‘Freddy’ or (Blues advisor) Greg Alexander are going to come out and say that directly but I feel they have a strong feeling that NSW media go hard on them whereas the Queensland media doesn’t go as hard on the Queensland setup,” Weidler said on Footy Talk.
“There are a lot more shows based here with strong personalities whether it be print, electronic journos or former players. They don’t feel supported in what they do.”
Riccio added: “Absolutely more media in Sydney, everyone’s looking for a different angle.
“There’s more shows, there’s more talkback, more dissection of team selections with NSW as a by-product of them losing last year’s series.”
Fittler has won three of his five series as Blues coach but faces an uphill battle to prevent Queensland winning back-to-back series.
The Blues must win game two in Brisbane on 21 June then game three in Sydney three weeks later if ‘Freddy’ and his team are to lift the Shield for a 4th time together.
While no Blues team has ever accomplished what’s in front of Fittler, the coach is 5-0 in game two since taking the top job in 2018.
Both the Blues and Maroons are set to officially name their squads for game two at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday.
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