Brad Fittler earmarks Mitchell Moses, Alex Twal as future NSW Blues stars
BRAD Fittler refuses to be drawn on his likely appointment as the next Blues coach but he’s more than happy to anoint two of his Cedars as future NSW stars.
Fittler, who is the favourite to take over from Laurie Daley, didn’t want to talk about his chances of landing the gig but was full of praise for two of the young guns he has been coaching for Lebanon at the World Cup.
The former league great, who has a keen eye for talent, has earmarked Tigers forward Alex Twal and Eels halfback Mitchell Mosses for long representative careers.
Twal, who was let go by the Eels mid-season, has been a standout for Lebanon in both their pool matches.
In their clash with England the only forward on both sides to register more metres than Twal was Tom Burgess, who scored a runaway try.
Against a formidable opposition pack, he old churned out 145 metres and didn’t shy away from the hard work making 52 tackles.
The 20-year old, who stands at 192cm and weighs in at 106kg, has the right pedigree and is a former Junior Kangaroo and has represented NSW at all junior levels including under-20s, 18s and 16s.
Moses’ talent and game-breaking ability was on show for everyone to see against France when he came up with a flashy chip and chase try to secure a historic win for Lebanon.
But Fittler says players like Moses and Twal have more to offer the Blues than fancy footwork and blockbusting runs.
He says they would bring the kind of attitude needed to succeed in the Origin arena.
“Absolutely [they are future Blues stars],” Fittler said.
“Specifically talking about those two. They are outstanding.
“The big thing is how they are outside the footy field.
“Are they easy to get along with or are they hard work? Do they add value to the place or do they detract from it?
“And both players have been fantastic, they have brought a heap of energy and what players like them do is give everything they have got. They come as themselves and they don’t try to hide from it.”
As well as future representative stars, Lebanon is a minnow team filled with young players on the brink of NRL stardom.
Fittler has had some of the brightest prospects at this disposal during this World Cup campaign including Parramatta fullback Anthony Layoun and South Sydney’s Adam Doueihi.
And it’s Cedars captain Robbie Farah who knows better than most the way in which a career can be boosted with a single Test match.
Farah credits his international debut as an 18-year old for spring boarding his NRL career.
“There’s a lot of young kids in our side that I have no doubt clubs are watching. A couple of good games in the World Cup and you never know what might happen,” Farah said.
“Anthony [Layoun] who’s at Parramatta, I have been really impressed with him. Adam [Doueihi] who has been with me with Souths this year and I think this World Cup campaign will do massive things for him as well.”
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au...s/news-story/b5993105ff2050a7cdcdd981d7fe4605
This one may come back to bite us.
