The issue Freddy had was that he struggled to face adversity. As 2021 showed, when he was able to pick from a full strength field, he was able to mop the floor with the Maroons. However when he had to make compromises, he struggled and would often make strange selections that lacked any rhyme or reason.
If you watch a lot of Channel 9 content, you'll hear Brad say he doesn't pick his team until he has to. While there's some truth to it, I also think he has an ideal team in mind from the jump. In my view, if you asked Brad what the core of the team would have looked like before the season started, this would be it:
1. James Tedesco
2. Brian To'o
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Joseph Suaalii
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Payne Haas
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Jake Trbojevic
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Junior Paulo
15. Cameron Murray
16. Jack Wighton
With 17 being left open for a form player or a promising up and comer who just needed an opportunity to take his game to the next level.
That's a quality side and the Maroons would have struggled to beat it, but there were so many issues and disruptions, the Blues couldn't name that team.
Firstly you had Suaalii announce his departure to Rugby and his form suffered as a result, so much so, he was never in the frame. Jake missed the opening two games through injury, Angus Crichton had more pressing matters with his mental health and Jack Wighton straight up retired. Even so, the Blues had enough weapons in their team, right up until Latrell Mitchell pulled the pin.
I'm curious to hear what actually happened with Latrell because from reports the injury should have only kept him out for a week or two. Yet, he ended up missing the entire series, was the injury more severe than what was reported or was Latrell being unprofessional?
There were other issues with the camp as well. If I recall correct, both Murray and Martin struggled to train and only had a couple of sessions which is why they took a back-seat etc.
Still, that doesn't excuse selections like Tevita Pangai Jr and Stefano Utoikamanu. Nor does it excuse the way Nicho Hynes was treated both on the field and off of it. It was those type of moves that really highlighted Freddy's weaknesses and showed the lack of foresight.
If there's any consolation, I think one of the reason why Bradman's debut was so successful is because of the Emerging Pathways system. That's what a successful system should look like - you bring these players through from U/16 and when an opportunity presents itself you back them and more often than not it's more successful than chucking in some random flavour of the month selection.
wwos.nine.com.au
