'He doesn't do that well': Freddy puts heat on Blues debutant who doesn't 'play really tough'

Addin Fonua-Blake may fill the brief to be the alpha of the NSW Blues, but Brad Fittler has urged the star prop to be tougher if he wants to have a strong impact in the Origin arena.

The Sharks and Tonga forward was one of six debutants named in Laurie Daley's team on Monday, having become eligible thanks to the revamped rules this year.

The Origin arena has always been one that many felt Fonua-Blake and fellow NSW debutant Victory Radley would thrive in.

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But former Blues coach Fittler recognised there was one area of Fonua-Blake's game that he will need to fix to thrive for the state.

Maroons coach Billy Slater has called on "a lot of hitmen" for game one, including Tom Flegler, Max Plath and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.

Looking at NSW's team, Fittler believes Victor Radley is the man that will fulfil that role.

"Those (three Queenslanders) play that sort of role where they go after you," he began, speaking on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth.

"Victor goes after you ... so they'll have to go after him."

Andrew Johns added: "Someone has to go after Tino because he is the alpha. Whether that be Fonua-Blake, (Jacob) Saifiti or Mitch Barnett."

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While there is no doubting that all three of those named will land some bruising tackles, Fittler has put the heat on Fonua-Blake to take it one step further.

"Addin Fonua-Blake doesn't really play that role," he said.

"He is your alpha ... but he is more of a quick play of the ball and has great footwork.

"He needs to play that (enforcer) role. He needs to understand - I know that he has come out and said that he wants to play Origin but he needs to be tough.

"That is not just in being able to belt blokes, but he needs to be able to get up from marker and work hard from there. That is one of the things that he doesn't do that well.

"He is very talented but he needs to play really tough."

Fittler's comments are similar to those of fellow NSW legend Greg Alexander, who was also an advisor to Fittler during his time as Blues coach.

"I didn't think he was in good enough form," Alexander said of Fonua-Blake's selection on SEN radio on Monday.

"The thing for me with Addin is he doesn't seem to take it personally. He just rolls through his job, does his hit-ups, bit of footwork. But even that hasn't been as sharp as it has been in previous seasons.

"His ability to get in between defends, it doesn't seem what it was last year or the year before. His last season at the Warriors was incredible.

"If Laurie can get him to take it personally... I think he's got to change the attitude of Fonua-Blake. You need to take it personally when it comes to Origin, especially in the middle."

Johns admitted that had he and Fittler been playing alongside Fonua-Blake they would be "winding him up" to get the fierce reaction that will change games.

As for Radley, the pair know that he would not need to be taunted to spark any reaction.

"Victor is the opposite, you'd be trying to wind him back," Johns said.

"You'd just leave him (to be). But you'd say, 'don't miss the big hit. It will come to you eventually. Just kind of knock yourself out on that first tackle'.

"You can imagine when he is prowling up and down the sidelines when he is about to go in. The crowd will be going 'here comes the inflictor' ... and the three brothers, they are absolute lunatics, they'll be screaming."

The eighth Immortal continued: "If there is one player with those new rules that you go, who would I love to see play Origin? It is Victor.

"Kill or be killed. There is no science to the way Victor is playing."

Origin I will be in Sydney next Wednesday.