Queensland and Paul Green have gone their separate ways, leaving the Maroons in yet another search for a new coach ahead of next year’s State of Origin series.
In his one series at the helm of the Maroons, Green was unable to retain the shield recaptured by Wayne Bennett in 2020, with Brad Fittler’s Blues winning their third Origin series in four years.
The QRL released a statement this afternoon confirming Green had decided he wouldn’t continue in the role, with a search for his replacement ongoing.
Green said his reason for leaving the post was his pursuit of a return to NRL coaching, which is not compatible with coaching Queensland.
“After much consultation and discussion post the Origin series, both the QRL and I have decided to move in different directions,” Green said.
“The basis for this is simple, the QRL wants to ensure that they have certainty around the Origin coach not wanting to pursue an NRL head coach job, and whilst I could give them that certainty for the 2021 series, I cannot guarantee that this would be the case in the future.”
The statement makes Green’s intention to get back into the NRL ASAP clear.
Having won a premiership at the helm of the Cowboys in 2015, Green’s name still regularly comes up as a viable option when a vacancy opens up at club level.
Green was happy to take a break from the rigours of NRL coaching this season after being sacked by the Cowboys midway through the 2020 season but having had a season-and-a-half away from clubland he is clearly ready to throw his hat back into the ring.
“We all understand the dynamics and volatility around NRL club head coach roles and ultimately, that is where I see myself when the right opportunity opens up,” Green said.
“I agree with the QRL’s desire for stability in the Origin coach job and to that end, I felt compelled to be transparent with my broader plans and thus this decision. I have loved every minute of this job as it is every Queenslanders dream to coach this team.
“Whilst we didn’t win the 2021 series, I feel that the future is very bright for the Queensland team and wish them and the new coach the very best for 2022 and beyond.”
Confirmation that Green would not coach the Maroons in 2022 opens the door for Bennett to return to the role in what would be a huge boost for next year’s Origin series given the theatre that follows the master coach everywhere he goes.
Bennett will finish his tenure with the Rabbitohs at the end of the finals series after the club put in place a succession plan with his blessing that hands the head coaching role to his long-time senior assistant Jason Demetriou next season.
Bennett will return to Queensland to be closer to his family and hasn’t yet secured a role for 2022 despite repeatedly saying he wants to continue working in the game.
The seven-time premiership coach is expected to walk into a job with Queensland’s expansion club should it get the green light to join the NRL as the competition’s 17th franchise in 2023, but that will leave Bennett with 12 months to fill in between.
The Maroons job might just be the perfect gap-filler and the QRL will no doubt explore the idea after his appointment for the end-of-year 2020 series was an outrageous success.
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