Queensland star Dane Gagai backs Billy Slater to learn Origin coaching role on the job

Retired fullback Billy Slater is being tipped to become Queensland’s Origin coach, and he has the backing of one current Maroons star.

Queensland winger Dane Gagai backs Billy Slater to become the Maroons’ new coach, but warns about the need for former players to have coaching experience. Picture: Dan Peled / AAP

Queensland winger Dane Gagai is backing Billy Slater to become the new Maroons State of Origin coach, but warns about the need for former players to have coaching experience.

Slater is favoured to secure the Maroons Origin coaching job after being nominated as the preferred candidate to replace the outgoing Paul Green.

A subcommittee has recommended the retired Storm fullback to the Queensland board, who will decide whether to formally anoint the Maroons fullback icon as Green’s coaching successor for 2022 as early as this Thursday.

Slater has yet to engage in formal negotiations with the QRL, but it appears the job – a three-year deal until the end of 2024 – is his if he wants it.

Queensland Maroons player Kalyn Ponga is mentored by former Origin star Billy Slater during training in Brisbane in 2019. Picture: Dan Peled / AAP

Gagai has read reports linking Slater, Cam Smith and Johnathan Thurston to a coaching dream team for Queensland, but he hasn’t given the concept too much thought as he focuses on the Rabbitohs’ first finals game against Penrith on Saturday.

“But they (Slater, Smith, and Thurston) are great players, very experienced and they know what it takes to win footy,” said Gagai, who has scored 11 tries for the Maroons in his 19 Origins since 2015.

“I’m sure they would make good coaches, but I guess along with everything, coaching has its other things that come with it.

“Not just being a good player and you’ve also got to know the game and they (Slater etc) do know that.

“I guess experience as a coach is something that you’ve got to learn.”

Gagai was surprised to see Green moved on from the Queensland coaching role after just one series in charge.

“Yeah, it came pretty quickly. I didn’t really hear any talk other than when it happened,” he said.

“But I’ve got a job to focus on here (at Souths) and that is all I’m going to be doing.”

Asked if he would attempt to convince Souths coach Wayne Bennett to return to the Origin arena after successfully leading Queensland to an upset series victory in 2020, Gagai said frankly: “Nah, I’m in Wayne’s ear trying to get the win this weekend so we can have a week off.”

Originally published as Queensland star Dane Gagai backs Billy Slater to learn Origin coaching role on the job