State of Origin: Queensland look to recruit Thurston, Slater, Cronk in major coaching overhaul
Reckon JT or Billy Slater, or even Cooper Cronk might make a decent Origin coach? Well, it may not be too much of a far-fetched concept if changes to the Queensland structure are approved.
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Wayne Bennett’s return to the Maroons could be short lived as Queensland powerbrokers consider making a monumental change to the Origin coaching job to attract some of the NRL’s greatest ever players.
News Corp can reveal the Queensland Rugby League is contemplating making the Maroons head coach role a part-time job following the departure of Kevin Walters to the Brisbane Broncos.
Walters has been employed in a full-time capacity for the past four years to oversee Queensland’s development pathways and coach the Maroons in the annual three-game series.
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But that could change from 2021 as the QRL looks to attract the likes of retired Queensland legends Johnathan Thurston, Justin Hodges, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and potentially Cameron Smith to bid for the role.
South Sydney coach Bennett will oversee Queensland in next month’s series which will be his fourth stint in the role, having previously served in 1986-88, 1998 and 2001-03.
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After missing out on the Broncos gig, former Cowboys coach Paul Green is favoured to be appointed Maroons coach next year, but QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher said there could be changes to the set up.
“We’re doing a lot of strategic work, we’re going to look at the full-time versus part-time argument,” he said.
“If we went the part-time way it would be because we saw an emerging talent in a former player who didn’t want to be a full-time head coach, but could come in and do the job. That may be the most effective way.
“We’re going to look at the pros and cons and people who have been involved in it. There is a lot of hard work to be done after this.
“I can tell you over a number of years there have been people such as Justin Hodges in the camp, Billy Slater, one would think Cameron Smith would be interested in the future, would Cooper Cronk want to do it? Those guys were all exceptional talents.
“We’ve got to do the groundwork and once you’ve done that you have to make sure there’s a pool of talent to bring through the system.
“We need to have a pathway that becomes a credible way to continue making Origin the spectacle it is.”
Walters will remain involved with Queensland’s train-on squad over the coming weeks before Bennett takes the reins ahead of Game One in Adelaide on November 4 as the Maroons look to snap a two-year losing streak.
“I love coaching Queensland and I’m extremely humbled to be invited to coach this team again, particularly in light of the challenging circumstances with Kevin moving on to coach the Broncos,” Bennett said.
“I’m very proud and pleased that I’m still able to do it. State of Origin means so much to the people of Queensland.
“It’s been a difficult year for many people and I just want to give something back if I can.”
The QRL will then look towards finalising a more permanent coaching set up, with Green in the box seat to secure the role.
If the QRL opts for Green, they will look to usher in a new generation of coaching talent under the 2015 NRL premiership-winner.
“To be very fair to Paul Green, we got notified so late by the Broncos about Kevvie’s appointment that it didn’t help Paul’s cause coaching the Maroons this year,” Hatcher said.
“This year at least Paul was at a major disadvantage because we have had to make a decision quickly due to the time frames and that means we need someone who has been there, done that in the Origin arena.
“But moving forward, we will be looking at a number of candidates for next year’s series. We will only appoint this coach for this one series and there we will take a wider view for the 2021 series.
“Paul Green will certainly be one candidate going into the mix next year. We are also keen to develop another generation of coaches and some former players like Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Justin Hodges and Johnathan Thurston may have some interest working under an experienced coach like Paul Green.”