Inside the first NSW team meeting when Fittler laid down the law

As always, with both life and rugby league, it took the great “Rampaging” Roy Slaven to perfectly articulate this week what State of Origin is all about.

“Brad Fittler has a no dickheads policy,” he told his offsider, HG Nelson, on Triple M. “Only dickheads win State of Origin. Look at Queensland.”

NSW is boldly taking an alternative approach by picking players who are team first, individual second. Who arent about their next contract, their next Instagram post, their “brand”.

In the very first minute of the Blues very first team meeting earlier this week, the normally chilled Fittler told his players in Cyclone Gus-like fashion what he expected of them.

“If you are going to be a selfish [expletive] and act like a selfish [expletive], youll be out the door straight away,” is how it was explained to this column.

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Fittler was coy when I put it on him.

“Yeah, it was something like that,” he said. “It was to show that what they do behind the scenes matters. Everyone hears everything. Whether its good or bad, it always goes around and gets back.

“Footy is all about character. Its nothing to do with skill — its all character. The theme has always been about putting your team first and in our game thats a test of character.

“There are a lot of distractions now for players. They move in and out of focus very quickly. Whether they're up for a contract, whether things arent going that well for them, their managers …

“It doesnt drive me mad but I am totally realistic about what theyre dealing with. Theyre all addicted to their phones, their egos are getting dragged from pillar to post because theyre on social media, theyre getting told theyre fantastic in one comment, then [expletives] in the next.

“This notion of your brand … Someone once said to me, Oh that will be good for your brand. I said, Im a person. I dont do brand. Its totally offensive to be considered that way.

“Every now and then you have to put the specifics of the game aside and gather an attitude that covers a lot more. From the opening round, we said those are the sort of players we want. In the end, the players weve gone with picked themselves.”

In other words, no dickheads.

Fittlers predecessor, Laurie Daley, is too honourable to reveal publicly how some players let him down during last years series but lets just say its no coincidence that Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson and even Andrew Fifita, who said hed be prepared to play games one and two and was being considered, did not get picked.

Whatever policys in place, its already working: ticket sales for game one at the MCG next Wednesday night took a sharp upward turn after Fittler named his new-look side that has 11 players making their debut.

The people have spoken. And, as Cyclone Gus says: “Its a team for the people”.

Refs offside

When Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein were revealed as the referees for Origin I, my reaction was like everyone else …

What the what?

If there was ever any dispute that the referees are a divided camp, this confirms it. The best ref in the game, Matt Cecchin, clearly isnt one of the cool kids at League Central.

Sutton we can accept, although the fact his brother, Bernard, is also the referees boss smacks of nepotism or conflict of interest or … Anyway, its just not right.

But how Klein, who two months ago was dropped for his golden-point howler that robbed the Tigers against the Broncos, got the nod is anyones guess.

Calm your farm, says Fittler.

“Ive always been a fan of Ashley,” he says. “I like the way he views the game. Gerry Sutton, I dont know as well as a person. Ive spoken to Ashley at different stages and Im impressed. How they ref is up to them.

“We had a meeting with the NRL last week and they said theyre going to ref as they have been, whatever that means. Theyre going to ref to the rules but if they do that its going to make it a shit game to watch.

“Not all great games are low penalty counts. If one team is cheating they have to penalise them.”

Dodging tins and ripping in ….

Once again, the True Blues function held at The Star on Monday night showed why its the best shindig on the rugby league calendar — not least because Ross Wilson belted out some Mondo Rock and Daddy Cool classics.

Highlights included Paul Langmack telling the room about the time a huge brawl broke out during the infamous XXXX-throwing match at Lang Park in 1988. Queenslander Bob Lindner — his roommate from the Kangaroo tour the year before — held him on the ground and whispered: “Stay down. Were too smart for these blokes”. With the likes of Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu and Sam Backo in the Queensland side, Langmack reckoned Lindner saved his life.

The Maroons believe they have a mortgage on “passion” but theres plenty of it remaining among former Blues players.

“Tape your ears back and rip into these bastards,” demanded the usually mild-mannered former winger Matt King, looking directly at the current bunch of Blues players.

Then this from rookie prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who wants the first touch from the kick-off: “I hope they kick it my way … and I can start killing people”.

Cue angry letter writers who will take this literally and say this remark sends the wrong message to the children etc blah de blah blah blah.

As for the decision of NSW management to dress the players in blue jackets over black shirts with black pants and black trainers, were told it wanted to reflect the young side thats been selected.

Alas, comparisons have already been made to the style of 1990s icons Boyz II Men, Human Nature, Jerry Seinfeld …

Q&A: Dane Rampe

We speak to the Sydney Swans vice-captain ahead of Friday night's opening match of the AFL's Indigenous Round against Carlton at the SCG.

You are on the clubs Reconciliation Action Plan committee. How important is this round of footy?

We celebrate a lot of rounds but this is probably the players' favourite because it recognises all the genuine superstars of our game who are indigenous. The best thing about it is we get a week to talk about the inequalities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders face. That is the most rewarding part of the week. There's a real sense of pride and education.

The Buddy mural in Darlinghurst is amazing …

It's incredible. He's quite shy, Big Bud. He's very humble about it. He sees it as a way of not celebrating his performances but his people and what this round means to him.

You missed seven matches last season with a broken arm after you unsuccessfully tried to jump over a chain fence on Driver Avenue. Many of us have done it after several beers at the footy.

I was sober. I tried to step over it and completely misjudged it. It just flung me to the ground. If I had a few beers I would've done something spectacular.

Are your teammates still giving it to you about it?

No, they aren't anymore and I will tell you why: Callum Mills rolled his ankle walking back from the cafe at Allianz Stadium a few days ago. He's broken his foot and he's out for the year. He's taken my mantle off me and while I am not happy for him it's good to have the boys off my back.

Carlton are last, which makes them a danger?

For some reason, Carlton always plays good footy against us. We know it's a danger game because they were in it with Geelong right up until the last quarter last week.

Origin tip?

Kieren Jack leads the way for us … We're all into it. We were having a laugh about Sportsbet already paying out on NSW [after Cameron Smith retired from rep football]. I'm not going to say I'm on top of it but it's about NSW started doing something — and fired up.

THE QUOTE

“Next question.” — Thats about as expansive as Bernard Tomic got at his bizarre media conference following his bizarre French Open loss. Yeah good chat, Bernie.

THUMBS UP

Kevin Sheedy was a legend long before he was named the AFL's 28th official Legend at the annual Hall of Fame function in Melbourne on Tuesday night. "Only two people in the world did 27 years: Nelson Mandela and myself," Sheedy said in his acceptance speech.

THUMBS DOWN

Real Madrid players consoling distraught Liverpool keeper Loris Karius at full-time of the Champions League final was all class. The death threats levelled at the German, who made a couple of horrific errors, from his own fans was not. Ugly stuff.

Its a big weekend for …

LeBron. That is all.

Its an even bigger weekend for …

Corey Norman, who was slugged $30,000 during the week for hitting the drink while injured and is being shopped around like he's on Gumtree. Last placed Parra play the sliding Knights at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

Chief Sports Writer, The Sydney Morning Herald

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