Addo-Carr call hardest of Fittler’s tenure

Scott Bailey | May 30, 2022

Brad Fittler has described dropping Josh Addo-Carr as his hardest call yet as NSW coach, confirming it was not only height but the switch to Canterbury that had hurt the winger.

Addo-Carr’s energetic personality was noticeably absent from the first full day in Blues camp on Monday, after his shock omission from Fittler’s 22-man squad.

The Indigenous flyer has featured in each of Fittler’s State of Origin camps since he took charge in 2018, and sits one try short of the Blues’ all-time record with 10 in 12 games.

But he has become the victim of NSW’s search for height out wide, with Daniel Tupou’s extra 13cm on the former Melbourne star a decisive factor in plans to counter Queensland’s high-jumping Selwyn Cobbo.

Fittler has had a relationship with Tupou from his earlier days coaching City Origin, and on Monday labelled him one of the Blues’ best players in 2020 before losing his spot last year.

But it didn’t make the call to leave out Addo-Carr any easier, in what Fittler said was his most difficult choice in his five-series term so far.

“Without a doubt … it was the toughest call (I’ve had to make),” Fittler said.

“He has been the heart and soul of this team for a few years now.

“I have been in contact with Foxx (Addo-Carr) and we’re both aware of the situation and we’re cool. 

“We both just recognise that finding some form back at Canterbury is most probably the best thing.”

Addo-Carr has comfortably been the leading try-scoring amongst an under-achieving group at Canterbury this season, scoring six in 10 games.

His work rate has increased and he is breaking more tackles, but ultimately his decline in good ball has led to his try tally dropping drastically, from 15 this time last year at Melbourne.

Notably, Matt Burton was also barely in the conversation for the vacant centre spot after moving to the Bulldogs.

It comes despite Burton being Dally M Player of the Year at centre last year season with Penrith, before moving to five-eighth at Canterbury.

Asked why the relatively short Panthers winger Brian To’o was preferred over Addo-Carr, Fittler pointed at contrasting team form.

“If you look at our team, apart from Jack Wighton and Tariq, every other player is in the top eight,” Fittler said. 

“Form has come into it as a big part of it. 

“We have six Penrith players, Parra are equal-second and we have three of them. 

“A lot of it has been what they are doing on the field. It’s my job to identify that loyalty, which is very obvious in what we have done for the past few years, and form.”