Brad Fittler slammed for Damien Cook call during Origin II

Brad Fittler has copped a lashing on social media after a questionable tactical decision in a match that could well define his job status.

Fittler took his injury-hit squad to to save this year’s Origin series having lost Game One in three weeks ago.

The Blues coach’s position has been called into question this series, ayam gacor with his decision to pick Jarome Luai over Dally M winner Nicho Hynes causing heavy criticism. 

And when disaster struck in the opening knockings of the game at Suncorp, with , Fittler’s response baffled fans. 

He opted to slot Damien Cook into the centres, despite the Rabbitohs star having little experience of playing in the position and possessing the talented Cameron Murray – who played as a half during his schoolboy career.

Fans took to Twitter to blast the decision that could prove costly. 

‘Cameron Murray has won games playing in the centres for Souths, is being courted by the Wallabies to play inside centre for them, and with his job on the line Brad Fittler instead opted for a 178cm dummy half to mark up on Val Holmes and Xavier Coates.Staggering,’ one fan said.

‘Brad Fittler went into this game knowing that Damien Cook was going to plug a backline injury if we had one instead of picking Matt Burton,’ another said. ‘Queenslands defence has been elite but we make it so hard on ourselves.’ 

A third fan posted: ‘Cameron Murray played centre his whole school boy rugby career.Yet braindead Freddy sends on Damien Cook.’ 

A dejected fan added: ‘Literally have spent my whole life just wishing NSW could be good… Get fittler out, tedesco has played his last origin series, why is Damien cook playing centre?I haven’t understood half of the decisions.’ 

Some saw the funny side, though. 

‘Currently filing a missing persons report for Cameron Murray. I will get to the bottom of this guys.’ 

Phil Gould was equally critical of the decision.

‘I don’t know why that was the option if an outside back was to go down,’ he said on Nine’s post-match show.

‘I mean, you’re really looking for a back-rower who can handle it out there.In the old days it was a Steve Menzies or an Angus Crichton back in the day. You’ve got Hudson (Young), you’ve got Yeo, Cameron Murray can cover those positions.

‘I would have thought Damien Cook was one of their big attacking players coming off the bench.That’s why they started with Reece Robson. Get Damien Cook onto the field and then start playing through the middle. Well that’s now gone; Damien Cook’s been out there tackling in the centres.

‘I felt sorry for Damien Cook, having to play all that time in the centres,’ Gould added on Nine’s post-match show.

‘They were put under stress from the time Trbojevic got hurt.

‘But that wouldn’t have changed the result.’