Footy fans slam Channel Nine for airing ‘propaganda’ for Blues coach Brad Fittler: ‘Pre-game stuff like praise for him’
Rugby league fans have slammed Channel Nine’s pre-game coverage of the State of Origin final as a ‘tribute’ to Brad Fittler, bordering on ‘propaganda’.
The New South Wales coach made seven changes to the side that lost Origin II as the Blues look to avoid a series whitewash at Acre Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Blues have lost three of the last four series under Fittler, whose reign in charge of New South Wales could end if the Maroons complete a series sweep for the first time since 2010.
But the 51-year-old cut a surprisingly relaxed figure as he walked onto the field with Phil Gould during Nine’s pre-match coverage.
The tone of the chat between the two did not go down well with Blues fans, with Gold in particular noting that the under-fire Fittler had ‘done a very good job’ in charge of New South Wales.
Brad Fittler is under pressure after losing three series in four years in charge of the Blues
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The NBL’s Sydney Kings communications and media director Julian O’Brien tweeted: ‘Channel Nine playing pre-game tribute to Brad Fittler.
His position was echoed by many other viewers, with one noting that the piece was akin to a ‘campaign’ for the current blues boss.
‘Gould just told Fittler: “You did a good job”,’ another fan tweeted.
‘In what way did he do well? He lost Origin, played Cook at centre, pathetic coaching.’
Some viewers also questioned why Nine’s coverage of Origin III made no mention of Fittler being in charge of the final game.
‘What’s up with Brad Fittler PR c**p? This is his last game in charge. Think that might be worth mentioning,’ he said.
Meanwhile, another fan suggested that Gould’s praise was like a coach under pressure after receiving a dreaded vote of confidence from the board.
“Nine’s exposé on Brad Fittler is tantamount to a coach’s board endorsement,” the tweet read.
Julian O’Brien, director of communications and media for the NBL’s Sydney Kings, described Channel Nine’s pre-game coverage as a tribute to Fittler.
Some fans joked that Phil Gould’s praise on Twitter resembled a coach receiving support from the board when under pressure.
One disgruntled viewer likened the coverage to ‘Brad Fittler propaganda’
Fans questioned why Nine did not mention that Fittler could lose his job at the end of the series
Another viewer questioned why Nine’s coverage praised Fittler for ‘doing a good job’
For his part, Fittler insisted he was confident the Blues could end a tough series on a high.
He said, ‘I want to say that every preparation has been good.
‘The second game got away from us, but I think every preparation has been good. This has been no different.
“It was obviously different circumstances, but I think they know what to do. We have to do better than the first two games.”
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