NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Brad Fittler

Bradley Scott Fittler, AM, (born 5 February 1972, in Auburn, New South Wales) is a former Australian rugby league player and current coach of the Sydney Roosters. He has captained both the New South Wales and Australian teams, and in 2000 was awarded the Golden Boot award. He is generally regarded as one of the all-time greats of the game. Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia. ... is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Auburn is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. ... Rugby league football (usually shortened to rugby league, football, league) is a full-contact team sport played with a prolate spheroid-shaped ball by two teams of thirteen on a rectangular grass field. ... The Sydney Roosters are a professional rugby league club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. ... The New South Wales Rugby League team represent New South Wales annually in the Rugby League State of Origin competition. ... The Rugby League World Magazine Golden Boot Award The Rugby League World Golden Boot Award are a series of rugby league awards handed out on an annual basis for a series of achievements in rugby league. ...

Football career

Fittler's first grade career started in 1989 at the Penrith Panthers while he was still in high school. He played in Penrith's 1990 Grand Final loss, then in the Premiership winning side of 1991. In 1996, he joined the Sydney Roosters where he played nine seasons, captaining them to the 2002 Grand Final victory. Fittler is second behind Terry Lamb as the most experienced first grader, having played 336 games, scoring 122 tries. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The 1990 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the eighty-third season of professional rugby league football in Australia. ... This article details the 1991 New South Wales Rugby League premiership. ... The Sydney Roosters are a professional rugby league club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. ... 2002 saw the fifth National Rugby League (NRL) season, the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. ... Terry Lamb OAM, (born September 15, 1961) is an Australian former rugby league player. ... This article refers to the use of the word Try in rugby football terminology. ...

Fittler represented the Australian Schoolboys from McCarthy Catholic College in 1988 and 1989. He was selected for Kangaroo Tours in 1990, 1994 and 2001 and played in the World Cups of 1992, 1995 and 2000. Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian Rugby League tours of Great Britain and France. ... The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the last played in the conventional format, where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches. ... the Rugby League Council to support the concept. ... The tenth Rugby League World Cup continued to use the three-year format, stretching to cover the years 1989 to 1992. ... The eleventh Rugby League World Cup was badged the Centenary World Cup, reflecting the fact that 1995 was marked the 100th birthday of the sport. ... The twelfth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain and France in 2000. ...

Early in his career Fittler struggled with discipline problems, but he matured into a fine leader. He captained Australia in 20 Tests, winning 17 and losing 3, and in a further 5 victories in the 2000 World Cup. He also captained NSW in 14 State of Origin matches, winning 8 and losing 6. In club competition, he captained the Roosters to their first grand final appearance in twenty seasons in 2000, a Premiership in 2002 and successive grand final appearances in 2003 and 2004, before retiring at the end of 2004. Most recent series 2006 State of Origin: LOST Queensland 2 - New South Wales 1 Biggest win New South Wales 56 - 16 Queensland (Stadium Australia, Sydney; 7 June 2000) Biggest defeat Queensland 36 - 6 New South Wales (Lang Park, Brisbane; 23 May 1989) The New South Wales Rugby League team represents... Players are selected to play for the state in which they played their first senior football, hence the name state of origin. Prior to 1980 players were selected for interstate matches on the basis of where they were playing their club football at the time. ... The National Rugby League (NRL) is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. ...

Two years after Fittler announced his retirement from representative football, NSW coach Phil Gould brought him back to State of Origin for the second and third game. Both he and Gould were farewelled in the last game at Telstra Stadium after he scored the winning try that sealed the NSW victory. For the drummer Phil Gould, see Phil Gould (musician). ... This page is for Telstra Stadium, Sydney. ...

Fittler remains both the youngest NSW State of Origin player (18 years 114 days) and the youngest Kangaroo representative (18 years 247 days). Fittler played more total matches (409 combining club and representative games) than any other player.

Media career

Fittler presents a weekly footy tipping segment on the Today show. Fittler also co-hosts NRL Deluxe, a streaming video show on Mondays and Thursdays available via Bigpond TV. It is unknown if his media commitments will continue following his promotion to coach. Today is an Australian morning television program broadcast weekdays from 6am on the Nine Network. ...

Coaching career

On 9 July 2007, Rooster's coach Chris Anderson quit the club, just 48 hours after the team lost 56–0 to the Manly Sea Eagles, their second worst ever loss. Fittler took over the coaching from Round 18, in what was initially for a short term until the end of the 2007 season. The Roosters, who were sitting near the bottom of the competition and struggling with form, turned a corner with Fittler as coach as they went on to post some impressive wins. His first match was against his former mentor, Ricky Stuart coaching the Cronulla Sharks. The Roosters won the match 23–12. His second match was against the Newcastle Knights and again the team was successful 20–17. Chris Anderson may mean: Chris Anderson (Microsoft) is an architect at Microsoft Chris Anderson (Wired) is the Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine Chris Anderson (YDA) is a Young Democrats of America activist from Chattanooga, Tennessee Chris Anderson (Rugby League) is a former Rugby League winger and also coach for... The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are a team in the National Rugby League (NRL), the premier rugby league football competition in Australia. ... Ricky Stuart is a former Australian representative rugby league and rugby union player - a dual international and the current coach of the Australian national rugby league team. ... The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league team based in Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney. ... The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Newcastle, New South Wales. ...

On the 27 July 2007, Fittler's coaching career took a massive leap. The Roosters side defeated the Melbourne Storm [front runners of the Premiership] 26–16, with the two late consolation tries to the Storms misrepresenting the match. Former Roosters coach, Phil Gould remarked after the Melbourne game "I've always had great confidence that "Freddie" would be successful at anything he turned his mind to. If he truly wants to be a coach, he'll be a bloody good one... I think in the end he was drawn to it and, to me, that's a coach. You don't wake up one day and say, 'I want to be a coach'. You are drawn to it. It compels you. I see and hear this in Freddie these days.^[1] The Melbourne Storm are a professional rugby league football club based in the city of Melbourne, Australia. ... For the drummer Phil Gould, see Phil Gould (musician). ...

Following the win over the Melbourne Storm, the Roosters went up against the New Zealand Warriors with the match resulting in the first draw since 2005 after a hard fought golden point period which ended with the score 31–31. The result was good enough to keep Fittler undefeated as coach. The New Zealand Warriors (formerly the Auckland Warriors) are a professional rugby league team based in Auckland, New Zealand. ...

That run was extended against the Wests Tigers on Friday, 10 August, with the second golden point game in a row for the club after a late field goal attempt from Braith Anasta hit the cross bar with 15 seconds to go. The game ended in a 26–22 win after Anasta broke the line and passed to Amos Roberts who then set up Joel Monaghan for the winning try. Wests Tigers is a rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL), the premier rugby league competition in Australasia. ... Braith Anasta (born Braith Anastasakis January 14, 1982 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition, and also for New South Wales and Australia. ... Amos Roberts (born November 2, 1980) is an Australian Rugby League player. ... Joel Monaghan (born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia) is a rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. ...

Unfortunately, Fittler's winning streak as a coach was broken on the 19 August 2007 when the Roosters played the Gold Coast Titans, losing 22–18. The following week, in the penulitmate round of the regular season, the Roosters lost to the eventual 2007 wooden spooners, the Penrith Panthers, 28–22. The Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football team based on the Gold Coast in Queensland. ...

In the final round of the season the Roosters defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs, 26–12. The game was highly controversial with Souths forward David Fa'alogo king hitting Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta. Brad Fittler branding Fa'alogo a coward. The South Sydney Rabbitohs, also known as Souths, SSFC or The Rabbits, are an Australian professional rugby league team based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... David Faalogo (born September 9, 1980 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League competition. ...

On 21 August 2007 the Sydney Roosters signed Brad Fittler as their full time Head Coach until the 2010 season.

Outside rugby league

In 2000 Fittler was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. His autobiography, Freddy: The Brad Fittler Story, was published in 2005. He was named a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List. The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport. ... Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia. ...

Fittler has a long time partner, Marie Liarris. They have two children together, a daughter, Demi, and a son, Zach.

Christopher Anderson is a former Australian rugby league coach and player. ... The Sydney Roosters are a professional rugby league club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. ...

Footnotes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 210th day of the year (211th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Categories: Australian rugby league players | 1972 births | Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal | Sydney Roosters players | Penrith Panthers rugby league players | Australian national rugby league team captain | Members of the Order of Australia | New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players | Living people | New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin captains | Rugby league coaches The Sydney Roosters are a professional rugby league club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. ... Shannon Hegarty (born June 14, 1979 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian Rugby League player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League competition and also for Queensland & Australia. ... Justin Hodges (born May 25, 1982 in Cairns, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos teams. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Craig Wing (born Sydney, December 26, 1979) is an Australian rugby league player. ... Jason Cayless (born January 15, 1980 in Sydney, Australia to New Zealand parents) is a New Zealand Rugby League player for St Helens RFC in the Super League. ... Adrian Morley (born May 10 1977 in Salford, UK) is a rugby league player who plays for the Warrington Wolves in the National Rugby League competition. ... Peter Cusack (born Young, NSW 27 January 1977) is an Australian rugby league player. ... Craig Fitzgibbon is a Rugby League player who plays for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. ... Luke Ricketson is a former Australian Rugby League player who played for the Sydney Roosters. ... Michael Crocker (born June 21, 1980 in Auburn, Australia) is a rugby league player for the Melbourne Storm and the Queensland State of Origin Team. ... Chris Flannery is a Rugby League player who plays for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. ... Bryan Fletcher (born April 12, 1974 in Sydney, NSW) is an Australian former international rugby league forward who currently plays for English Super League team, Wigan Warriors // Bryan started his career at Sydney Roosters making a total of 125 appearances for the red, white and blue. ... Andrew Lomu (born on the 28th of February, 1979 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a rugby league footballer of Tongan origin who has represented both Tonga and New Zealand in rugby league. ... Ricky Stuart is a former Australian representative rugby league and rugby union player - a dual international and the current coach of the Australian national rugby league team. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

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