NRL coaches should stop criticising Queensland Origin selections, says Gorden Tallis

GORDEN Tallis has slammed Paul Green for his stance on Maroons hopeful Coen Hess, claiming it is time for NRL coaches to stay out of Origin selection talk.

QUEENSLAND great Gorden Tallis has slammed Paul Green for his stance on Maroons hopeful Coen Hess, claiming it is time to shut NRL coaches out of discussions around Origin selection.

The Raging Bull told The Courier-Mail it was time for coaches such as Green and Wayne Bennett to let Kevin Walters do his job after they both spoke out against Queensland selections in recent weeks.

Bennett was the first to clash with Maroons selectors after he said he would not release Anthony Milford to the Queensland side for Game One unless he was named in the 17 ahead of in-doubt playmaker Johnathan Thurston.

Now Green has appealed to the Queensland selectors to overlook Cowboys sensation Hess, claiming he is not ready to take that step up to the next level after playing just 21 games in the NRL.

But Tallis rubbished Green’s assessment of the young forward.

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Tallis says Green should support Coen Hess for Origin selection. Picture: Evan Morgan

He said that this kind of talk will only have a negative impact on Hess, who publicly questioned his own ability for Queensland on Saturday night.

“Just imagine if he started to not back himself,” Tallis said of the 20-year-old giant.

“You’re supposed to be building your players up. You want your players backing themselves, you want your players thinking they’re at that level and that they can be the best.

“He plays against Origin players every week.

“Imagine if a parent told their kids not to dream ... you don’t say that they’re not good enough.”

Tallis said both Green and Bennett were trying to influence selections to suit themselves and their clubs’ interests.

He said they have both been involved with the Queensland Origin team in the past and should not forget what that honour means.

Hess, who will play his 22nd NRL game on Saturday against the Eels, would also be far from the least experienced player to come into Origin if he is selected for Game One.

Ben Ikin played just four games for the Gold Coast Seagulls before he donned the Queensland jersey, while Maroons stalwarts Matt Scott and Cameron Smith had played just 14 and 18 NRL games respectively before making their Origin debuts.

Kevin Walters has had to deal with the coaches as well as everything else. Photo: Peter Wallis

Tallis, who played 20 games for Queensland, said you are never really ready for that arena anyway and can be doubting yourself right up until your very last game.

He said now is the time for Green and Bennett to step back and just let Origin play out in the way it should.

“It’s like they don’t want Queensland to win,” Tallis said.

“Can’t they just let Kevvie Walters do his job? I think all rugby league fans would prefer it if they left the Queensland Origin side alone.

“Who’d want to be a coach anyway? You turn into a cranky old man. Don’t sign Origin-quality players if that’s the way you want to be.

“Don’t win competitions or strive to be the best if you can’t handle it when these players play at the top level.”