Paul Green’s State of Origin coaching future to be decided by QRL call

Queensland’s State of Origin future has reached a watershed moment and it is set to decide Paul Green’s coaching fate.

The fate of Maroons coach Paul Green is set to be decided. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Queensland rugby league is facing a watershed call where it must expand the role of State of Origin coach Paul Green if it wants to keep him in the job.

Green was appointed on a short term deal spanning little more than the three State of Origin games this season and while the QRL has an option on his services for next year the matter is more complex than that.

It is understood Green has told the QRL board he would be reluctant to continue if the length of his “in and out’’ deal was restricted to the relatively narrow time span of a few months in the middle of the season.

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If Queensland want Green to continue – and that is likely but not certain – the board will need to offer him an expanded role which features key roles in pathway systems guiding Queensland’s best young players towards Origin.

The QRL, who have just completed a review into this season’s 2-1 series loss, will discuss the matter this week and no outcome is certain.

The fate of Maroons coach Paul Green is set to be decided. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Green could be reappointed on an expanded deal or, if not, the QRL may investigate hiring Billy Slater who narrowly missed the job last year or even bringing back Wayne Bennett, who pulled off the mother of all series wins last year and is returning to Queensland with no club coaching roles next season.

The feeling is that Queensland, after losing three of the last four series, has reached a crucial juncture in Origin history.

The QRL are acutely aware of the fact that Queensland cannot afford to stay down for long in Origin for the Maroons success against the odds has always been the lifeblood of the project.

Maroons coach Paul Green. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

The thought of a coach being involved in an expanded role, as Kevin Walters was several years ago, has appeal for there is a concern that the depth in some crucial positions such as centre has become worryingly shallow and the pathway systems need to be urgently nourished.

The fact that all three Origin games were played in Queensland short-circuits most excuses for this season’s loss.

But the QRL gave Green credit for finishing the series stronger than he started it with an old-fashioned hard earned win in the final game on the Gold Coast, admittedly in a dead rubber.

They also cut him some slack for the pressures of a disrupted campaign featuring a string of injuries to key players and the late withdrawal of Jai Arrow following a controversial Covid breach before the last game.

The Maroons preparations were also rattled by Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh being mid-camp scratchings, Dane Gagai and Arrow requiring hospital treatment, AJ Brimson and Cameron Munster playing through injury and Ronaldo Mulitalo’s game day eligibility scandal which forced his late withdrawal.

There is also the fact that the current Blues squad is one of the strongest in its history and coach Brad Fittler has matured into an excellent mentor.

As well as Slater, the QRL are monitoring the off-field careers of Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith feeling they could one day become Origin coaches.

The QRL were impressed with Green when he first interviewed for the job.

There were suggestions that, for all his doubted coaching smarts, he may not have the aura of successful Origin coaches such as Bennett or Mal Meninga and that Origin coaching was more about passion than game plans.

But a win in the final game raised hope that he was growing into the role.

Originally published as Paul Green’s State of Origin coaching future to be decided by QRL call