Who should coach the Blues in 2018?

NOW that Laurie Daley is finished as Blues coach, the question everyone is asking is who should replace him for the 2018 series?

Possible Blues coaches for tge 2018 State of Origin series.

THE axe has fallen on Laurie Daley after three straight series losses and the Blues will need a new man to lead them in 2018.

Here are seven contenders for what is one of the toughest jobs in rugby league.

OUT: Daley sacked as Blues coach

DEAN PAY

Pay has coached the Blues under-20s side for several seasons and has been a long-time assistant coach at Parramatta and Canberra. The former Bulldogs prop also steered Melbourne’s under-20s to a title in 2009. Despite a lack of first grade experience, Pay has coached several current and future NSW representatives during his time in the under-20s job and was a decorated Blues player himself, appearing in 12 matches from 1994 to 1998. The mark against Pay may be his desire to coach the Bulldogs should Des Hasler be sacked.

Pay was an enforcer for the Blues in the late 1990s.

GEOFF TOOVEY

The former Manly mentor is currently coaching Bradford but would likely return to Australia for a job of this magnitude. In four seasons with Manly, Toovey took them to the semi-finals three times, the preliminary finals twice and the grand final once. He knows how to handle star players and is a strong disciplinarian. A former Blues captain, Toovey played 16 Origin matches from 1990 to 2000 and is the most credentialed candidate on this list. However, he may wish to move back into NRL coaching with the Titans.

Toovey is the outstanding candidate.

CRAIG FITZGIBBON

A highly rated assistant with the Roosters, Fitzgibbon has coached Country Origin the last two seasons but lost both matches. The former Blues backrower is the youngest of these applicants and had a fine career with the Blues from 2003 to 2008. He’s an inexperienced option, but a steadier one than the high-risk choices of Fittler or Johns.

BRAD FITTLER

Fittler is a Blues legend, one of the finest players ever to grace State of Origin and has experience as both an NRL coach with the Roosters from 2007 to 2009 and in rep football, leading various Blues underage teams and City Origin from 2012 to 2017. As coach of City, he won three matches, drew one and lost two, despite fielding vastly understrength sides at times. NSW’s most capped player and a rugby league icon, Fittler might come across as a riskier choice due to his relaxed and unorthodox style but perhaps something bold and different is what the Blues need.

Fittler has been successful coaching City in the past.

ANDREW JOHNS

Johns has never coached a senior team before but his knowledge of the game and passion for State of Origin is unrivalled. A former Blues assistant, Johns has unparalleled footballing nous and provided he was surrounded with experienced assistants, he could be the unorthodox choice the Blues need. However, given the disciplinary problems that were revealed after the series was wrapped the Blues hierarchy may want a firmer hand to steer the ship.

Johns has served as a Blues assistant in the past.

JOHN CARTWRIGHT

A low-key choice, but Cartwright has been involved in the Blues set-up for a long time. An assistant coach for the Blues in several series under various regimes during the past 13 years, Cartwright was again involved as an offsider this year. Currently working as part of Trent Barrett’s staff at Manly, Cartwright played eight matches for the Blues from 1989 to 1992 and coached the Titans from 2007 to 2014.

Gould is the Blues most successful coach.

PHIL GOULD

Could it be time for Gus to put up or shut up? Penrith’s GM has been extremely vocal on the shortcomings of the Blues side in recent seasons, criticising their leadership, attitude and lack of polish. Gould hasn’t coached anyone since 2004, when he steered the Blues to a series win, but would become one of the leading candidates to take the job if he chose to pursue it. However, Gould has repeatedly stated his desire not to coach the Blues again and may have to surrender his duties at Penrith were he to take charge of the Blues again. You could write your own ticket on the odds, but if the most successful coach in Blues history decided to come out of retirement the job could be his to lose.