Brad Fittler should be rugby league’s next Immortal, fellow great and respected commentator Phil Gould says.
The date for the next intake of Immortals is yet to be confirmed, but Gould says when that day comes the NSW coach should be standing on the stage as the 14th player included in the sport’s most elite club.
Gould, who coached a teenage Fittler to premiership glory with Penrith in 1991, has a well-documented history alongside the two-club legend.
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Having coached him at the Panthers and then the Roosters, Gould also shared five Origin series wins with Fittler as coach and player of NSW.
Fittler, who played 337 games between the Panthers and Roosters, won premierships at both clubs, claimed a Golden Boot, was NSW’s most capped State of Origin player and a winning Blues captain. He skippered Australia to two Rugby League World Cup victories.
“I think he’s in the Immortal status. It’s a conversation that needs to be had a lot more,” Gould told Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“Brad Fittler’s record is extraordinary when you actually put up the numbers he achieved and the things he did, it’s quite extraordinary.
“I think we worked out when he (Fittler) got to the end of his career, he played 16 years and he played something like 426 first-class fixtures – NRL, state games, Australian Test matches.
“For 16 years, he played 426 games. That averages out at 26 first-class games a year.
“With the great personal performances that he put in and the performances of his team, performances for NSW and Australia.”
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Gould isn’t the only one to call for Fittler to be made an Immortal, with Peter Sterling nominating the great five-eighth alongside Darren Lockyer as his next two picks for the honour in 2020.
Since retirement in 2004, Fittler has coached at both club and Origin level.
Currently the head coach of the Blues, he’s won three of the past four Origin series as the man in charge.
“He came through a great era where there was a lot of great players,” Gould said.
“Everyone knows the name Brad Fittler in sport and he’s adding to that legend now with his coaching of the Origin side … I’ve got no doubt he deserves recognition.
“When you look at the Team of the Century and when you look at the Roosters’ all-time greats when they celebrate their all-time great – he’s in the picture there alongside Arthur Beetson. He’s held in that high esteem at the club.
“I’ve got no doubt Brad Fittler should be recognised and that is biased, but it’s not, that’s where he should be.
“I’ve never understood why he hasn’t gotten that accolade or recognition.”
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