Breezy Blues head south after SCG session as Fittler ponders No.13
The trouble-free campaign for Brad Fittler's NSW continued as his players enjoyed a 90-minute hit-out in the wet at the Sydney Cricket Ground before they flew south.
The only issue Fittler faces just 48 hours out from his first game in charge against Queensland is whether to start Jake Trbojevic at lock at the expense of Jack de Belin.
The odds of Trbojevic running on to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the early exchanges appear to be shortening. After breaking from camp on Friday afternoon, the players returned for weights on Sunday before an opposed session against Cabramatta's Ron Massey Cup team.
Former NRL star and Samoan skipper Frank Pritchard, Cabramatta's famous recruit, did not train against the Blues. There were also plenty of kicks in general play and at goal as drizzle set in at the end of the session.
The unbelievable smooth run for Fittler is a far cry from the Maroons, who nervously watched Ben Hunt train with a troublesome cork on Sunday while queries remain about Josh McGuire's fitness after being sidelined for a month. Half of Queensland was drafted into Kevin Walter's camp last week.
Melbourne flyer Josh Addo-Carr was a crowd favourite as the players completed a promotion at Luna Park in St Kilda later in the day.
"Addo-Carr is the quickest bloke I've seen in my life,'' said Tyrone Peachey, who claims to be the quickest over 40m at his club Penrith.
Peachey said he remained unsure how he would be used off the bench.
"I've been training at hooker and around the middle, and the way HIAs are these days, you never know, I could play anywhere," Peachey said. "I think [utilities] will become more valuable when the interchanges go to six."
Peachey said he had enjoyed working with Blues adviser Greg Alexander and assistant Danny Buderus on his passing game out of dummy-half.
The Panthers livewire joked how Fittler had his concerns last year when he slotted into hooker for his club and threw half a dozen passes along the ground. Alexander assured Fittler that Peachey would be worth the long-term gamble.
Trbojevic had enjoyed the change of scenery, the yoga and "mindful breathing" – a Fittler initiative – and being around so many Blues debutants.
"Nathan Cleary has impressed me his whole career, he's a quality player and person, and he's so level headed and calm," Trbojevic said. "Even from an early age, I played him in one of his first games and I couldn't believe he was only 18."
Trbojevic has been named on the interchange but is expected to start for de Belin. De Belin has carried a hip pointer injury, but that will not be the reason he is dropped back to the bench if Fittler goes that way.
Addo-Carr was keen for his hometown debut and unsure what intel his Storm teammate Billy Slater would pass on to the Queenslanders.
The players looked relaxed and exchanged stories about how many tickets they had to purchase for family and friends.