Sport: Wondrous Fittler folly entices

Brad Fittler (left) claimed the 2002 Premiership against the New Zealand Warriors, and wants to make a comeback on these shores. Photo/File

They call it the silly season, which often makes it the time for humorous announcements in the world of sport, but that didn't stop the 15-year-old rugby league fan inside me splitting the cynicism with a smile yesterday.

In what is more than likely a publicity stunt - not surprising given slick boxing promoters Duco Events are behind the event - 41-year-old legend Brad Fittler has indicated he will come out of retirement to play for the Roosters at the NRL Auckland Nines in February.

Now in the interests of fairness, and likely a quick flick through the league's medical insurance policies, the NRL will wait until Monday to decide whether to rubberstamp "Freddy's" insane desire to run around with young Joeys 20 years his junior on a pitch with 30 per cent more open ground to cover on a warm, late-summer day.

I for one would love to see such wondrous folly.

I'll never forget the beautiful symmetry in the 1991 grand final when the "old bull" Mal Meninga snatched an intercept and looked set to score for his Canberra team in perhaps the most crucial moment of the first half. Sprinting across in cover was the "young bull" a 19-year-old Penrith centre who coolly lowered big Mal with as copy-book a covering tackle as you could hope to see.

In a shining moment, it was conflict and denouncement between the then-greatest player in the world and the man who in coming years would assume his mantle.

"Brad Fittler's a freak and freaks can do anything," commentator David Fordham exclaimed.

Today, after 336 first-grade games, two premierships, three World Cups, 31 Origins and 40 tests, Freddy may just hold his own with those young bucks on Eden Park.

The last thing an old boxer loses is his punch - for a league player it is his guile.

It is not like the game isn't littered with wondrous examples of "grandads" suiting up for one last hurrah.

The whole success of State of Origin can be directly attributed to the giant Arthur Beetson - about to be dropped to Sydney's reserve grade competition he was tapped to captain his native Queensland in the first-ever game in 1980.

At 35, Beetson proved the detractors of the "pointless, friendly game" wrong by belting his own Parramatta clubmates in the shellshocked New South Wales line-up from pillar to post in an inspired performance that made "mate against mate" become a tagline for the ages.

Choosing yesterday's champions to do the business one more time worked again for Queensland in the 2001 series - also Fittler's initial NSW retirement.

Maroon's coach Wayne Bennett arranged for 34-year-old Allan Langer to fly back under an assumed name from England to play at halfback for the game three decider, and "Alfie" dominated proceedings by laying on three tries in the first half to whisk the Cane Toads away.

For Kiwi fans it couldn't get much better than the Gary Freeman Testimonial match in 1995, when at 40 years old Freeman's former test skipper Mark Graham proved in 40 minutes that time could not dull the Hall of Fame hard man's skills.

"Mark Graham ... it's like turning the clock back," the commentator enthused as the legendary back rower set up smart tries with silky offloads against Kangaroo players fresh off winning the 1995 World Cup.

Never underestimate the value of beautiful nostalgia in the Greatest Game of All.

If Freddy wants one more ride, I say let him saddle that pony.