Brad Fittler has found himself in hot water after making an inappropriate comment during Channel Nine’s broadcast of the NRL game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
Fittler, a notable figure in rugby league, made the controversial remark when Cowboys player Tom Chester made a significant run in the 50th minute of the match. Unfortunately, Chester failed to convert the opportunity into a try by not passing the ball to a teammate.
“Chester the molester, he’s blown it,” Fittler commented in the aftermath of the 25-year-old player’s error.
The remark sparked immediate backlash, with one viewer expressing outrage on social media: “Seriously @NRLonNine, it’s disgraceful to allow someone like Brad Fittler to hold a microphone. @nthqldcowboys should file a complaint about what Fittler said. @NRL needs to address this as well.”
Another critic added, “Brad Fittler calling Tom Chester ‘Chester The Molester’ on live national TV is just another example of why being skilled at playing rugby doesn’t automatically qualify someone for a media role with significant influence. It’s disgraceful, but the old saying ‘boys will be boys’ seems to prevail.”
Footy icon turned Channel Nine star Brad Fittler has outraged fans by calling Cowboys star Tom Chester ‘Chester the molester’ during match coverage on Sunday
Chester (pictured left) had just bombed a try in his team’s win over Souths when Fittler made the remarkÂ
‘Freddy was an amazing player (and I’m a Queenslander) but he sucks as a commentator,’ added a third.
Other comments included ‘Brad Fittler be better’ and ‘Disgusting’.
Fittler reportedly contacted Cowboys officials after the match to apologise, and the club will not be pursuing the matter.
Chester was one of the best players on the ground as the Cowboys ran out 30-18 winners, scoring a try in the 34th minute.
It’s not the first time the league icon known as ‘Freddy’ has got into trouble while commentating for Nine.
In August 2024 he was slammed for an inappropriate remark made while interviewing Paris Olympics gold medallists Jess and Noemie Fox on the sideline at an NRL match.
The 54-year-old was standing between the sisters when he said, ‘I’m waiting for the kiss cam to come on for me.’
The cringeworthy moment included a mortified reaction from the Foxes as Fittler persisted by asking, ‘Not happening?’
The league great apologised to the Cowboys after the match (Tom Chester is pictured with partner Ashlyn Stevenson)
It’s not the first time ‘Freddy’ has been in hot water for what he’s said on Nine
After the grand final later that year, Fittler ran into Jess Fox again in the sheds, awkwardly offering her a limited-edition Tooheys beer that celebrated the Panthers’ fourth straight premiership.
Fittler offered Jess Fox the drink and said: ‘Four in a row. Says it on the beer. They’ve earned it. Jess, can you take that? You can have that.’
Fox looked shocked and taken aback before refusing the offer by saying, ‘Um, nah, nah.’
Channel Nine has been contacted for comment.Â
Fittler has been a long-standing member of the Nine commentary team since calling time on his playing career at the end of the 2004 season.
He played 336 matches for the Panthers and Roosters, starred for NSW in 31 State of Origin games, captaining the side for many of those, and represented his country 38 times, also rising to become skipper of the Kangaroos side.
Fitter won the 1991 grand final with Penrith and the 2002 premiership with the Tricolours, before also turning to coaching.
He led the Roosters from 2007 to 2009, and coached the Blues in Origin in 18 games from 2018 to 2023.Â