Billy Slater linked with huge career shift with NRL club on the hunt

Billy Slater has emerged as the NRL’s “golden ticket” with the Queensland coach linked with a drastic career move.

QLD Maroons head coach Billy Slater and NSW Blues head coach Michael Maguire. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Having missed out on Wayne Bennett, Parramatta’s coaching search is set to be far-reaching – and rival State of Origin coaches are in the mix.

Billy Slater has been in hot demand since taking to Origin coaching with Queensland like a duck to water, while Michael Maguire has experience at the NRL level and is reportedly keen to return to a full-time head coaching role in that competition.

Speaking on NRL 360, News Corp’s Michael Carayannis said there was no clear frontrunner for the Eels job: “When you look at number two (options), there’s no one clear after Wayne Bennett. So they’re going to cast that net far and wide.

“They want to try and speak to Billy Slater.”

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Host Braith Anasta said: “Billy’s popped up. Everyone wants Billy. He’s the golden ticket, Willy Wonka’s golden ticket.”

But James Hooper said the prospects of Slater joining Parramatta were far-fetched: “Tell them they’re dreaming. Billy Slater, no chance … they’re shooting for the impossible.

“They should have gone after Wayne in January when they had the opportunity, they didn’t.”

He added: “The only club I could ever see Billy coaching is Melbourne Storm, and that’s if he has a desire whatsoever to coach in the NRL – which at this point with all his media commitments, all his other commitments in life, I don’t think he does.”

It’s a different story when it comes to Blues coach Maguire, whose last role at NRL level was at the Wests Tigers in 2022 – but is reportedly keen to return to a head coaching gig at club level.

Speaking on NRL 360, Anasta said: “I’m hearing he does (want the Eels job).”

Carayannis added: “He wants that job.”

But the timing is certainly awkward: Maguire picks his maiden NSW team for State of Origin on Sunday night, while Parramatta won’t want to wait until the Origin series finishes in eight weeks before talking to Maguire.

QLD Maroons head coach Billy Slater and NSW Blues head coach Michael Maguire. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

It raises the uncomfortable prospect of Maguire having discussions with Parramatta in the midst of his first Origin campaign.

James Hooper said: “Madge is about to go into an Origin series, surely he’s not worried about the Parramatta job right now … surely his focus, just for the next eight weeks, has got to totally be NSW. Then when he gets through that he can begin to talk to Parramatta.”

But James Graham said: “I think if you’re the decision maker at NSW and you hire the coach, as soon as you picked Maguire you’ve got to understand and know that this person wants a full-time NRL job.”

A strong Origin campaign from Maguire would boost his hopes of securing a return to the NRL with the Eels.

And Carayannis said he remains the most-credentialed candidate if the Eels are looking for NRL experience, saying: “I think he’s the best experienced coach on the market. If that’s the way they’re going to go – to go for an experienced coach who has NRL experience, Michael Maguire is the best option.”

Elsewhere, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy today promised that his club won’t stand in the way of assistant coach Jason Ryles leaving to take up the head coaching role at Parramatta, but made clear “we don’t want him to go”.

Originally published as Billy Slater linked with huge career shift with NRL club on the hunt