Back in Tommy Raudonikis’ day, “player management” was probably code for belting an opponent.
But the legendary rugby league hardman now believes it is the key to NSW’s Origin revival – and why Brad Fittler rather than Laurie Daley should have replaced Ricky Stuart as Blues coach.
The inaugural NSW Origin captain tried many – usually unorthodox – ways to inspire his troops, including during a stint from 1997-98 as Blues coach.
A favourite was stabbing an ox’s heart to the dressing room wall – “you blokes don’t know what a heart is – there it is” – and who can forget the infamous “cattledog” call, certainly not a battered Andrew Johns.
Indeed Raudonikis would happily take up the Blues reins again next year despite his – hopefully – tongue-in-cheek complaint that last time as NSW coach officials “wanted me to wear socks, and undies” to press conferences.
But now the ex-Kangaroos skipper believes the player management approach adopted so successfully by Queensland’s Mal Meninga was NSW’s only hope – and reckoned Fittler was a better fit for the Blues.
“I probably would have preferred Freddy (Fittler),” Raudonikis said on Thursday.
“I just think Freddy can get on with blokes. In State of Origin you don’t have to coach players.
“They know how to play football. They are the best players in the world. You don’t have to tell them what to do.
“You have to get the best out of the players and we haven’t done that in seven years.”
Raudonikis still threw his support behind Daley and backed Stuart remaining in the NSW support staff next year.
“I think Laurie will go well. I am behind him 100 per cent – and if he wants a little bit of advice I will give it to him, maybe bring the cattledog call back,” he laughed.
“But I think if I was allowed to speak to the players half of them would leave.
“I thought Ricky did a good job and maybe they should have over-ruled that rule and let him stay on (as NSW coach) even though he is at Parramatta next year – all rules can be bent, I should know.”
However, the man who led Western Suburbs’ infamous face-slapping session in the late 1970s sounded like he wanted to do the same to Stuart for his recent claim NSW were the better side despite losing a seventh straight Origin series.
“Look at the result. You have to win games, not come out and say you are unlucky,” he said.
“Last time we got close but the score flattered us.”
Never afraid to bring back the biff, Raudonikis hoped the Blues had learned from the Origin I brawl sparked by NSW centre Michael Jennings’ “king hit” on Brent Tate.
“Our boys went hiding after that blue. They didn’t stand up and they (Queensland) won the game – we still have to aim up in that department,” he said.
