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He comes from rugby league royalty but Zach Fittler – the teenage son of former NSW Blues and Kangaroos captain, Brad – has turned down rival offers to sign with the Waratahs.
The rising 105kg centre turned down offers in Japan and Queensland, as well as interest in the NRL, to sign with the Waratahs on Monday.
The 18-year-old’s parents had initially thought the teenager would benefit from a sea change but ultimately the Scots College product settled on the Waratahs after weighing up his destination of choice for months.
Fittler, who is training with the wider Australian Schoolboys squad in Canberra ahead of Friday’s official selection, will join the Tahs on a two-year Elite Development deal.
Although the teenager isn’t likely to pull on the Waratahs jersey next year in Super Rugby, the deal will see him train with Dan McKellar’s main squad on a part-time basis.
But given he’s hitting the scales at more than 100kg, he would already be the heaviest back at the Waratahs.
NSW Rugby talent identification manager Andrew Cleverley added: “It’s the footwork, too. How quick is he? He’s quick enough is how I would answer that question.”
The son of the gun has been on the Waratahs radar for years, with his bullocking run against Queensland in the under-16s going viral after sitting down an opponent on his way to the tryline.
Like father, like son ???? Zach Fittler, son of NRL Legend Brad Fitler, dominated in the Waratahs U16 National Championships win at the weekend!
You can catch every match of the National U16 and U19 Championships live and exclusive, only on Stan Sport. #StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/cQ748ybG7s
— Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) October 10, 2022
Fittler’s father Brad, who played 336 first grade matches across the Panthers and Roosters and considered Blues royalty, previously said he was happy for his son to carve out his own career.
“He’s making his own path, so he’s extremely excited and a little bit nervous,” Brad Fittler told 9News in 2022.
“He’s bigger and stronger (than I am). It (changing of the guard) happened a few years ago, so I’m used to being dominated at home,” the NRL legend added.
After years of watching rising rugby talent swooped on by ravenous rugby league development officers and agents, including Kangaroos and Blues star Angus Crichton, Fittler’s signature is being viewed as another important moment in the game’s fightback.
“I think the fact that Australian rugby has pathway for young players, players can play for the Waratahs at the under 15s, so players are getting to see the pathway in the flesh and starting to understand the challenges around that,” Cleverley said.
“The ones who embrace that are the ones Super Rugby franchises are going to go after those kids because they see them perform.
“Having a really clear pathway like what we’ve got now helps.
“Angus Crichton could just play at schoolboy level but now there’s a layer above it. You play for NSW under 16s schools and there’s a Sydney team and a country team and the best 28 players became the Waratahs under-16s. That wasn’t around when Angus was coming through the pathways.
“You get them into the facility and they get nutrition presentations, mindset coaches and specialist coaching with them and they see how it works and can see themselves doing it.”
Zach Fittler has signed with the NSW Waratahs. Photo: Stan
Although Fittler isn’t expected to play Super Rugby next year, there is precedent for teenagers to rocket up the standings.
Recently capped Wallaby Max Jorgensen scored twice on debut against the Brumbies as an 18-year-old just months after he left school and arrived at Daceyville. His ascension to the top came months quicker than expected.
Fittler won’t have the same speed as Jorgensen, but he’s got size few others in Australian rugby have in the midfield. It’s what led former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to sit down with the teenager in recent months.
Indeed, without Samu Kerevi or Tevita Kuridrani in the midfield, the Wallabies have lacked a bullocking back in the centres.
Cleverley said it was clear Fittler had the skills to make him stand out but added his mindset could be what separates him.
“He’s got the physical attributes that people are looking for at the top end of sport,” he said.
“He’s around 105kg and he’s got the right skill set and most importantly he’s got the right character and mindset to get in and work. You’ve got to love the gym and running, the healthy lifestyle and not be overly social at times, and he’s got that and that’s why we’re excited to have him on board.”
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