State of Origin 2021: Paul Green denies he has lost the Queensland dressing room
Paul Green has broken his silence on rumours he has lost the Maroons dressing room, squashing talk of a toxic culture with one word.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Embattled Queensland coach Paul Green has addressed rumours of a toxic rift with Maroons players ahead of what could be his final game in charge against NSW in Origin III on Wednesday night.
Green’s dream ascension to the Queensland post has turned into a nightmare with the Maroons mentor suffering two consecutive defeats and a series loss compounded by the Ronaldo Mulitalo eligibility saga and the Jai Arrow Covid scandal.
Amid the turbulence, Green has been buffeted by speculation he has struggled to bond with Queensland players, who have displayed little of the famed Maroons spirit in their 50-6 and 26-0 losses in the opening two games of the series.
Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Green’s future as Queensland coach is uncertain. He is technically off-contract after Origin III, with Green and the Queensland Rugby League having a mutual 12-month option they can activate for the 2022 series if they are happy with the status quo.
Queensland chairman Bruce Hatcher says the Origin program will be reviewed after this year’s series and Green’s return next year could hinge on how the Maroons perform in Game Three at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.
Speaking at the captain‘s run on Tuesday, Green refused to speculate on his Origin future, but hit back at suggestions he had fallen out with Queensland players.
“It’s been good,” he said of his relationship with the Maroons squad.
“It won’t matter what I say now, (Origin III) will be the test.
“It’s not about words, it’s about what they do and their actions (on Wednesday night).
Asked if there has been a disconnect with Queensland players, Green replied: “No.”
To compound Green’s plight, the premiership-winning former Cowboys mentor has been rocked by claims on Saturday from Queensland Origin legend Paul Vautin that Billy Slater was offered the Maroons post before him.
Vautin’s allegation prompted a passionate riposte from Hatcher, who insists Maroons fullback icon Slater was never promised the Origin job ahead of Green.
Asked about the Slater speculation, Green said: “It doesn’t worry me, it happens all the time.
“I haven’t thought anything past (Wednesday) night, we need to play well for so many reasons and we need to get a win on the board, there’s no doubt about it.
“I got these questions (about his future) last week. My concern is only about Wednesday night ... that’s my sole focus.”
Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans defended Green and his culture in Camp Maroon.
“I have got along with ‘Greeny’ really well,” he said.
“He has put in a lot of hard work through the series. Unfortunately it hasn‘t been reflected in the way we have played. Moving forward if we can get a win, it will hopefully give everyone a bit more job security, not just Greeny, but the whole group.
“I don’t know why the questions started (about their culture) to be honest.
“I get the Jai Arrow situation put fuel on the fire, but before that I couldn‘t see why it all started. These questions only come when you are losing, so quite frankly the best thing we can do is train well and put in a good performance (in Origin III).
“We’ve had distractions on different levels all camp, some are the players fault, some are not the players fault like the Ronaldo thing.
“We certainly haven‘t used that stuff as an excuse and we won’t start now. We have to make sure we go out there and play well in Game Three.”
Green explains abrupt Arrow press conference exit
- Chris Honnery
Maroons coach Paul Green has defended the way he handled the Jai Arrow saga last week as investigations continue into the Origin Covid bubble breach.
Green came under fire for his abrupt press conference on Friday, leaving senior players Christian Welch and Kurt Capewell to answer questions about Arrow’s actions in bringing a woman into the team hotel.
The Queensland coach fronted the media on Monday morning to defend his actions.
“I was advised on the way to training (on Friday) not to make comment as the matter was still ongoing,” Green said.
“Given that Jai had been sanctioned, we thought that it was closed but I was advised that it was still ongoing so I was told not to speak.”
The NRL Integrity Unit are continuing their investigation into the Origin bubble breach which came just days before the Maroons are due to play the Blues at Cbus Super Stadium on Wednesday night.
Green said he was not “personally involved” in the investigation but believed no other Queensland player breached Covid protocols.
“It’s been an Integrity Unit investigation so they’re conducting it,” he said.
“I haven’t been personally involved.
“We’ve spoken to the players and the players are staunch in their position that there was no one else involved in the breach.
“Jai is extremely apologetic.
“The whole thing is regrettable and Jai has put his hand up and apologised.
“He’s very remorseful and understands the risk to the game and the NRL biosecurity bubble that it was.
“It’s unfortunate and it’s not good enough.
“He’s paid a heavy price and has been sanctioned.
“We also have to consider he’s a young man who has made a pretty big mistake but he also owned it.”
Camp Maroon has had one of their most dramatic build ups to an Origin game – from bubble breaches to last minute venue changes but Green was still confident the team was prepared for Wednesday night’s game.
“There’s been a few disruptions but other than that training has been going well,” he said.
“The boys have been really good.
“Whether or not this all brings them together, I’m confident it will, but we won’t really know until Wednesday night.”
COPPING ‘WORST TEAM EVER’ TAG SCARES TOP MAROON
The possibility of losing all three Origin games on home soil has become a “scary” thought for a Queensland team chastened by allegations it has fallen behind the pace.
The Maroons have been forced to deny reports they have lost their way after backrower Jai Arrow was sent home from camp for bringing a woman back to the team hotel, which was in breach of Covid protocols.
Queenslanders received some good news over the weekend when the NRL on Saturday announced Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast would host Origin III on Wednesday night.
However, the Maroons will statistically become the worst team in Origin history if they lose on the Gold Coast and the Blues are relishing the chance to make that happen.
Even Maroons enforcer Josh Papalii said it was a “scary” thought but he was determined to not let that happen.
“It’s obviously a bit scary,” Papalii said.
“In saying that, we’ve been training hard the last week and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“We’re very excited to bring the game to Cbus Super Stadium and hopefully we can deliver something for the Queensland fans.
“It would be nice (to win on home soil). The last two games didn’t go to plan how we wanted it to but sometimes that’s footy.
“They have a good team at the moment and they are all firing at the right time (but) I back our team 100 per cent.
“No doubt we’ll get the job done on Wednesday.”
The Arrow situation has cast a dramatic shadow across Camp Maroon in the past few days but players and staff are trying to look at the positives, in having Brisbane Broncos forward Tom Flegler called into the side.
Flegler was named as 20th man last Sunday but will be brought into the 17 in place of Arrow for Wednesday night’s finale.
Maroons backrower Felise Kaufusi denied the Arrow saga had been a disruption for the team and said he was looking forward to Flegler’s debut.
“It has been turbulent but we’ve dealt with that so we’re just looking forward to Wednesday night,” Melbourne Storm standout Kaufusi said.
“We’ve had some good news because we’re playing at Cbus and Flegler gets to debut for us. That’s pretty exciting for him and his family.”
Kaufusi said the announcement that Origin III would be played on the Gold Coast had been a big boost for the camp.
“It’s bloody huge news for us,” he said.
“To lose one game is huge but to lose all of them on Queensland soil, you don’t ever want to do that.
“I’ll be doing my best to try and make that not happen.”
More Coverage
Originally published as State of Origin 2021: Paul Green denies he has lost the Queensland dressing room
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.