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News.com.au
30-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brad Fittler pulls out of race to be next Kangaroos coach
Brad Fittler has pulled out of the race to be the next coach of the Australian Kangaroos. The NRL great had been seen as the favourite to be appointed the Kangaroos coach after Mal Meninga stepped down from the role to become the new coach of the Perth Bears. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Fittler won two premiership during his career and is one of rugby league's greatest representative players with 31 caps for NSW and 38 appearances for the Kangaroos. He coached the Prime Minister's XIII against PNG last year. But on Monday the 43-year-old said he wouldn't be putting his hand up to be the next Kangaroos coach, opting to focus on his media and commentary roles with Channel 9. 'There was an opportunity there, I'm very grateful for them thinking about me, but I think just in the situation I'm in at the moment, my commitments to Channel 9, I work for the NRL, I'm really enjoying that,' Fittler told 2GB. 'When the role came about and I just started to think about it and start planning that this is maybe for someone else at the moment. 'It was an incredible opportunity, but I also didn't think I could do it justice. That's why I didn't want to commit to it. 'But what an incredible opportunity for someone. I think it's someone with a bit of time. They need to get hotels, grounds, training fields, equipment, everything - it's a big job ahead, but what an awesome experience it is going to be, three Tests over in England.' Fittler said his previous experience of juggling his media duties while being NSW Blues coach played a part in his decision. 'I won't say I won't ever do it again in the future. I always found even when I was commentating while I coached the Origin team, it makes it a bit uncomfortable when you're talking about players and then you have to pick players,' he said. 'I just thought that got a bit muddy at stages and wore on my conscience at times.' Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith and former Broncos coach Kevin Walters are now the leading candidates to be appointed Kangaroos coach. The Kangaroos won the last Rugby League World Cup under Meninga and they will have a new coach for the postseason tour of England for the Rugby League Ashes, which is being held for the first time since 2003.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters handed unexpected boost after surprise call
Brad Fittler has reportedly made the surprising call to turn down the Kangaroos job with Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters now back in the race for the role. Fittler was widely expected to take on the Australian national side job after Mal Meninga vacated the position due to his pending job with the Perth Bears. Mal Meninga relinquished his duties as Kangaroos coach, stepping down after nine years in charge to take on the new NRL club based in Perth. Meninga was unveiled as Perth's inaugural coach, and will set about compiling their roster with immediate effect before they enter the NRL competition in 2027. Leading journalist Michael Chammas reported earlier this month Fittler, Walters and Smith were the three leading candidates. And after plenty of speculation it was expected Fittler would accept the Kangaroos role having taken a step back from coaching after his State of Origin run. Fittler was the NSW from 2018 to 2023, winning three out of six series in charge of the Blues. He returned to coaching last year to lead the Prime Minister's XIII team in the one-off Test match against PNG. But The Daily Telegraph has reported Fittler has opted to withdraw his name from the race as he looks to put all his focus into his media roles. This means Smith and Walters are now back in the race for the job. Smith has no experience as a head coach, but previously worked as an assistant to Billy Slater with the Queensland State of Origin team. The Melbourne Storm legend is regarded as one of the leading brains in the NRL, but has no desire to coach at club level. Walters most recently coached the Brisbane Broncos and took them to a grand final in 2023, but he was axed after a poor season in charge last year with the club missing the top eight. Walters has made it quite clear he wants to return to coaching as continues his media role with Fox Sports in 2025. The Kangaroos job is even more enticing this year with Australia set to take on England in a new Ashes-style series after the NRL season is over. Both Walters and Fittler would most likely have to give up some of their media commitments to take on the Australian head coaching job. After formally accepting the Bears role, Meninga stressed that the Kangaroos coach is a "full-time job". He said: "It's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments. From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on."
