Queensland’s failure in this year’s Origin series has highlighted the lack of Queensland coaches

Paul Green’s disappointing Origin series has highlighted a Maroons coaching crisis

It says a lot about the dire state of Queensland coaching that so many fans want to see Wayne Bennett rushed back to take charge of their beloved Maroons before this year’s State of Origin series is even over.

Bennett’s greatness is beyond dispute, his ability to understand Origin without peer, but why is the seven-time premiership winner always the answer?

More pointedly, why is the only alternative a bloke, albeit another Maroons legend, with barely any coaching experience under his belt.

Billy Slater is by all accounts an attacking genius. He understands the game and his work as a sounding board for Melbourne assistant coach Marc Brentnall has been largely responsible for the Storm’s attacking masterclass this season.

Yet Slater has never coached an NRL side and shows little appetite to do so, comfortable with his bit-part role in Melbourne and his work in the Nine Network commentary box.

The greatest misnomer in Origin right now is that Brad Fittler is simply a NSW legend who has waltzed in and sprinkled magic dust over the Blues.

Fittler has been a head coach at the Sydney Roosters and for Lebanon. He has endured success and catastrophe. He carries the scars of failure and has used them as the foundation for NSW supremacy.

Above all, he has been smart enough to surround himself with smart people who not only know Origin, but also understand the modern game.

Craig Fitzgibbon has been an able ally in recent years and when he departs at the end of this series to concentrate on his new job at Cronulla, the hot tip is that Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo has been earmarked to work with Fittler. Provided, of course, he isn’t in charge of an NRL side next year.

Beyond Bennett and Slater, the pickings are slim for Queensland.

Anthony Griffin has enjoyed mixed success thus far at St George Illawarra and there are few fresh Queensland coaches emerging through the NRL, although Josh Hannay continues to do a sterling job in an interim capacity at Cronulla.

Remarkably, the three Queensland clubs appear to have little interest in hiring their own. North Queensland have three New South Welshman in the senior coaching positions — Todd Payten, Dean Young and Steve Georgallis.

Gold Coast have Ipswich boy Jim Lenehan working under Justin Holbrook and alongside Jim Dymock. The Broncos, the flagship of Queensland rugby league, have Kevin Walters at the helm, yet he is supported by two assistants with blue coursing through their veins — John Cartwright and Terry Matterson.

For all the talk about a crisis in the Queensland playing ranks, almost as concerning is the dearth of coaches emerging through the ranks.

“One of our biggest projects ever has been performance and pathways to create more coaches and players at NRL level,” Queensland Rugby League chair Bruce Hatcher said.

“We have three clubs in Queensland and they don’t even have Queensland coaches. Two of the three have NSW (head) coaches.

“To be fair, there haven’t been that many in our system that appear to have been given an opportunity to coach. It is odd but it is something we have identified — we haven’t created enough talent in the coaching ranks.

“We are putting a lot of time and effort across the state …. to make sure the level of coaching is as good as it can be.”

The lack of alternatives means only Bennett and Slater would appear in the mix to replace Paul Green if he departs at the end of this year’s series.

Bennett is on the search for work next year and might have plenty of time on his hands if the NRL decides to delay expansion.

There is no better man manager in the game, his ability to read the mind of his players akin to that of legendary soccer manager Brian Clough.

Clough once inquisitively asked a journalist what book they were reading. Told it was Freud’s The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, Clough replied: “I can tell, from the moment I see someone in the dressing room, whether he’s off colour, had a row with his missus, kicked the cat or just doesn’t fancy it that particular day.

“I know who needs lifting. I know who needs to have his arse kicked. I know who needs leaving alone to get on with it. That’s just another form of coaching that you won’t find in the manuals, which is why I’ve never read them.”

As he walked away, Clough muttered: “I don’t remember Freud winning a European Cup final.”

Nor has he won an Origin series and there is no question that Bennett could empathise with Clough. I doubt he has read Freud, but he has a unique capacity to read the mind of his players regardless.

The jury is out on whether Green can do the same, particularly at Origin level. His career may be on the line at Cbus Stadium on Wednesday night as Maroons fans clamour for change after a disastrous series.

“The time for talking’s probably done, we need to show some actions and that counts tomorrow night,” Green said on Tuesday.

“That‘s (my future as Queensland coach) out of my hands, I’m not even worried or thinking about it.”