Paul Green’s decision to stand down as Queensland State of Origin coach likely means he’s close to confirming an NRL return in 2022, according to Phil Gould.
The QRL announced yesterday it had parted ways with Green after only one season, with New South Wales winning the series 2-1, the third victory in four years for the Blues.
Green said in the statement that he couldn’t give a guarantee to the QRL that he wouldn’t pursue an NRL job in the future.
But Gould says Green would only have stepped down now if he had plans for 2022, although he conceded he had a rocky start to his tenure as Queensland coach.
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“My understanding is he feels as though he’s in the running for an NRL job very, very soon,” he said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“If it’s been his decision, to leave a prestigious job like coaching Origin, where I think they would be a very good chance of success next year, would lead me to think he’s pretty sure he’s in the running for a job here (in the NRL).”
“It’s either that, or the QRL were not happy with the way things went down (this) year, because their first couple of games they lost, and they had some troubled preparations.
“At one stage I said it just appears that he’s out of his depth at that level, which was probably harsh criticism, but at the time Queensland’s campaign was a bit of a rabble.”
Green was in charge of North Queensland when the club won its maiden premiership in 2015, and stayed in that role until he stepped down in 2020.
Gould noted that his reign at the Cowboys ended in disappointing fashion, which, when added to the Origin loss in 2021, means Green would be unlikely to pass up the chance at redemption next year if a job wasn’t already in the offing.
“I can’t imagine him saying, I want to be an NRL coach, therefore I’ll sit out next year’s Origin series,” he explained.
“It would have to mean to me that there might be a job available now.
“If you wanted an NRL job, why not prove yourself and win next year’s Origin series? Surely that would improve your stakes?”
The Wests Tigers would appear to be the most likely landing point for Green in 2022, with the club currently conducting a review, after another sub-par performance in 2021.
The Tigers haven’t made the finals since 2011, and appear set to part ways with Michael Maguire.
If appointed, Green would be the club’s sixth coach in that period, after Tim Sheens, Mick Potter, Jason Taylor, Ivan Cleary and Maguire.
“If he says he’s passed up the Queensland job because he wants to be an NRL coach again, I’d have to think he thinks he’s in the running for an NRL job now. Now where would that be?” Gould asked.
“Queensland’s best side can obviously be very, very competitive. They did win last year’s series, and they did win Game Three this year, so, they’re still holding their own.
“That’s why I can’t understand why the coach has stood down.”
“There has to be a reason for that.”
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