Origin planets align for Paul Green

Five years after his coaching duties at North Queensland prevented him taking the reins of the Maroons, the planets have finally aligned for Paul Green.

Former North Queensland coach Paul Green has been given the Queensland Origin job. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Five years after his coaching duties at North Queensland prevented him taking the reins of the Maroons, the planets have finally aligned for Paul Green.

His appointment as Queensland coach will be officially confirmed on Thursday at a press conference and while Green was reluctant to speak expansively about his new job on Wednesday night, he made it clear he felt privileged to take over from Wayne Bennett and fulfil a dream of coaching the Maroons.

“Thankful for getting the opportunity,” Green said.

“It is a privilege to coach Queensland and I am excited about it. It has always been an aspirational thing for me and an ambition.

“To coach Queensland is awesome and to be able to do it now when I can focus solely on that, without any distractions of an NRL gig, it is not often the planets align.

“It is awesome.”

Green thought he had the job in 2016, only for the Cowboys to intervene and insist he focus solely on his job in Townsville. Kevin Walters stepped into the breach and enjoyed mixed fortunes — he won his first two series and then lost the next two.

When he stepped down last season to focus on his job at the Brisbane Broncos, many thought Green would be the logical successor given he had parted ways with the Cowboys.

Yet Wayne Bennett proved an irresistible alternative for the Queensland Rugby League and Green missed out again. Bennett’s return only lasted one series and Green is finally where he has long wanted to be, although he had to fend off the challenge of Melbourne legend Billy Slater to land the gig.

For a time, it appeared Slater had his nose in front but Green’s experience and premiership-winning credentials made him the logical appointment.

He has signed a one-year deal with a one year option, the terms giving him the ability to return to the NRL later this year.

In all likelihood, he will spend at least two years at the helm of Queensland. Interestingly, the length of his contract matches the deal Walters signed with the Broncos, meaning the pair come off contract at the same time.

Green and Walters were locked in a death match for the Broncos job, Walters winning the day and Green landing a coveted consolation prize at the helm of Queensland.

He has plenty of talent at his disposal, among the ranks a number of players who he has worked with in recent years. Michael Morgan was his captain at the Cowboys and Green was a key player in convincing Valentine Holmes to turn his back on the NFL and join North Queensland.

He helped lure Josh McGuire from the Broncos and handed Kalyn Ponga his first grade debut when he was a teenager. Likewise barnstorming back rower Coen Hess.

Green is yet to finalise his coaching staff, although it is understood long-time assistant Neil Henry is open to returning and Johnathan Thurston has been mooted as a potential shoulder for Green to lean on.