LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Brad Fittler has made the surprising decision to decline the position of Kangaroos coach, creating new opportunities for Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters in the race for the role.
Fittler was expected to step into this role following Mal Meninga's departure after nine years at the helm, as Meninga transitions to coaching the new NRL club based in Perth, set to debut in 2027.
According to reports from au.news.yahoo.com, Meninga's resignation has opened up the coaching position for the national team, and leading journalist Michael Chammas indicated that Fittler, Walters, and Smith were among the top candidates.
Fittler, who coached New South Wales from 2018 to 2023 with notable success-winning three out of six series-had initially stepped back from coaching but returned recently to lead the Prime Minister's XIII against PNG.
However, The Daily Telegraph has now reported that Fittler has chosen to withdraw from consideration for the Kangaroos job, opting to concentrate on his media commitments instead.
This development puts Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters back in contention for the prestigious position.
While Smith lacks head coaching experience, having only served as an assistant to Billy Slater for the Queensland State of Origin team, he is regarded as a strategic genius within the NRL.
Despite his credentials, Smith has expressed no desire to coach at the club level, which could impact his candidacy for the national role.
With Fittler's withdrawal, the coaching landscape for the Kangaroos has shifted, leaving Smith and Walters vying for a significant opportunity in Australian rugby league.