- Rugby League personality previously played for Penrith
- I wanted to join in the celebrations with the winning team of the NRL grand final
- Ran into Fox after a chilling interaction the last time they spoke
Former Penrith star Brad Fittler has been involved in another cringeworthy exchange with Australian Olympics star Jessica Fox on live TV in the aftermath of Penrith’s grand final victory.
The Panthers defeated the Melbourne Storm 14-6 in a tense decider to clinch their fourth consecutive NRL title.
Fittler was tasked with interviewing players after the match but disappeared on air – only to resurface in the Penrith sheds, where he offered Fox a beer and received a scathing response from the gold medalist.
Fittler made headlines with a recent interview with Olympic Jess and her fellow Olympic gold medalist sister Noemie, who are both proud supporters of the Penrith Panthers.
In that segment, Fittler infamously requested the Kiss Cam in August to focus on the duo while they were on the sidelines during a Panthers game.
The chilling moment included an mortified response from the Foxes when Fittler insisted, “Isn’t that happening?”
After the grand final, Fittler bumped into Jess Fox in the sheds again and awkwardly offered her a limited edition Tooheys beer in celebration of the Panthers’ four-peat.
Fittler offered Jess Fox the drink and said, “Four in a row.” Says it on the beer. They earned it. Jess, can you handle that? You can have that.’
Fittler had another awkward encounter with Olympic gold medalist Jess Fox (pictured) in their second hair-raising TV moment this year
The Penrith legend disappeared on Nine’s broadcast and popped up enjoying a beer with Liam Martin (pictured) when he was due to interview players on camera
Fox looked shocked and surprised before refusing the offer by saying, “Um, no, no.”
Fittler tried to recover by saying he couldn’t drink the beer because “I’m still at work” before asking, “Did you have a good night?”
‘Amazing. So special to be here and celebrate, and yeah, it’s great for Penrith and happy for the whole team,” Fox replied.
Fittler then asked: “Will Penrith be pumping or something?”
‘Absolute. I can’t imagine what it’s like right now,” Fox said.
Fittler then wrapped up the awkward interaction by saying goodbye to Fox and moving on to Penrith forward Moses Leota: “Great to see you. Here we go. Let’s get Moses. Moses. Wow! How are you? Congratulations.’
Nine presenter James Bracey told viewers the Penrith legend was gone as the team returned to the dressing room after the trophy presentation.
‘We wondered where Freddy should do the interview. Look at him! He doesn’t have a microphone in his hand, he has a beer. Exchanged the microphone for a Tooheys. Chewing Liam’s ear off,” Bracey said.
The 52-year-old, nicknamed ‘Freddy’, made 119 appearances for the Panthers, including the team’s 1991 premiership win, before moving to the Sydney Roosters for the remainder of his playing career.
Since retiring, Fittler has worked as coach of the Roosters and New South Wales State of Origin and was a regular on Channel Nine, often providing color from the sidelines and in the sheds.