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He may be rugby league royalty, but Zach Fittler, the teenage son of former NSW Blues and Kangaroos captain Brad, has turned down a contract offer from the Waratahs.
The 105kg centre signed for the Waratahs on Monday, having rejected offers from Japan and Queensland as well as interest from the NRL.
The 18-year-old’s parents initially thought the teenager would benefit from a big change, but after months of considering his destination, the Scottish university graduate ultimately decided to go to Waratah.
Fittler, who is training with the Australian Schoolboys team in Canberra ahead of official selection on Friday, will join Tass on a two-year elite development contract.
While the teenager is unlikely to pull on a Waratahs jersey in Super Rugby next year, the deal will see him train part-time with Dan McKellar’s main squad.
But considering he weighs over 100kg, he would already be the heaviest player in Waratahs.
NSW Rugby talent scout manager Andrew Cleverley added: “Footwork is also important. How fast are you? Fast enough is the answer to that question for me.”
The player has been on the radar of the Waratahs for several years, and was the subject of a sensational performance against Queensland as an Under-16, where he sat down an opponent on his way to the tryline.
Fittler’s father Brad, who made 336 senior appearances for the Panthers and Roosters and is considered Blues royalty, has previously said he is delighted his son is carving out his own playing career.
“He’s very excited and a little nervous because he’s making his own way,” Brad Fittler told 9News in 2022.
“He’s bigger and stronger (than me). (The changing of guard) happened a few years ago, so he’s used to being dominated at home,” the NRL legend added.
After years of watching rugby league development officers and agents, including Kangaroos and Blues star Angus Crichton, greedily recruit young rugby players, Fittler’s arrival is seen as another pivotal moment in the game’s fightback.
“I think it comes down to the fact that Australian rugby is opening up a pathway for younger players, the fact that it’s possible for players to play for the Waratahs at an under-15 level, and the fact that they’ve seen that path first-hand and are starting to understand the challenges that come with it,” Cleverley said.
“The people who accept it are the ones who the Super Rugby franchises are going to target because they want to see them perform.
“It’s helpful to have a really clear path like we have now.
“Angus Crichton used to only play at schoolboy level but now there’s a layer on top of that. He plays for NSW Under-16s, he’s got a Sydney team and a country team and 28 of his best players have been to the Waratahs Under-16s. There wasn’t anything like that when Angus came through the pipeline.
“You can bring them into the facility and get them nutrition education, mindset coaching, expert coaching, and see how it works and see yourself doing it.”
Zach Fittler signs for NSW Waratahs. Photo: Stan
Although Fittler is not expected to play in Super Rugby next year, there is a precedent for teenage players rising rapidly through the ranks.
Max Jorgensen, a recent Wallaby signing, scored twice on his debut against the Brumbies at the age of 18, just months after arriving at Daysville from school. His rise to the top has come months sooner than expected.
Fittler may not be as quick as Jorgensen, but he is smaller than most midfielders in Australian rugby, which is why former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has been sitting with the teenager in recent months.
Indeed, without Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani in midfield, the Wallabies were lacking a strong defender in the centre.
Cleverley added that while it’s clear Fittler has the skills to excel, it’s his mindset that sets him apart.
“He has the physical attributes that people expect from a top athlete in the sport,” he said.
“He’s about 105kg, he’s got the right skills, and most importantly he’s got the right personality and mindset to work with. He’s got to love the gym, running, a healthy lifestyle and not be overly social at times. He’s got that and we’re happy to have him.”
