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Fifita denies clash with NSW coach Daley

NSW forward Andrew Fifita says he has a good relationship with NSW coach Laurie Daley despite rumours of a rift.

Andrew Fifita
Andrew Fifita has called for NSW coach Laurie Daley to be reappointed in 2018. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Andrew Fifita has denied bad blood with NSW coach Laurie Daley after suggestions they clashed over a plan to bench the forward for the State of Origin decider.

Fifita has called for Daley to be reappointed for the 2018 series, giving a glowing assessment of their relationship.

"There's nothing wrong with me and Loz (Daley)," Cronulla player Fifita told reporters on Wednesday.

"He's one of those blokes, if I had a problem off the field, I'd give him a buzz for some advice.

"I hope he's the NSW coach next year. He's just one of those blokes you want to play for ... I think he's the perfect man for the job."

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Fifita's alleged blow-up at the coach and teammates' Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson's pub visit ahead of game three last month raised questions about the Blues' culture.

Reports of the incidents surfaced in the aftermath of NSW's crushing by Queensland in the decider to lose their 11th series in 12 years.

Daley has admitted to changing his mind about a decision to give prop David Klemmer a starting berth after a conversation with Fifita.

Daley has not revealed the contents or nature of the discussion with Fifita, but he abandoned the plan.

Fifita said he would have accepted a bench spot.

"I'd seen the logic of it," Fifita.

"Either way, it's 17 players who are replacing each other. It would have been the same.

"As long as I'm in that 17, I'm happy.

"What's best for the coach is best for the team. That's what I'm all about."

Fifita destroyed Queensland in a man-of-the-match performance in the Blues' comprehensive Origin I victory in Brisbane before falling away in the last two games.

He said Queensland did not enable him to respond positively to Daley's call to guide the team a their main forward.

"In the last two games, I felt like I didn't do my job," Fifita said.

"At Origin level, I just couldn't.

"They (Queensland) just roped me up every time. I ran the ball, they were in my face. (I'd) try to get something on, they'd shut it straight down.

"Things didn't go my way in the last two games."


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