Paul Green’s tenure as Queensland State of Origin coach has ended after just one year with the Maroons confirming his contract would not be renewed.
Key points:
- Paul Green says he remains interested in coaching an NRL team, and as such can not fully commit to the Maroons job
- Queensland is now looking for its third coach in as many years after losing Kevin Walters and Green
- Green said he “loved every minute” of coaching Queensland despite a 2-1 series defeat
Green has paid the price for the Maroons’ horrible 2021 campaign, where they were flogged in the first two games before winning a dead rubber third match.
Green said he could not provide the QRL the required “certainty” around the job going forward as he remains interested in returning to the NRL coaching fold should an opportunity open up.
“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.
“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.
“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.
Queensland was heavily beaten in the first two matches of this year’s Origin series.(
AAP: Darren England
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Green said he has “loved every minute of this job”, calling it “every Queenslander’s dream” to coach the Maroons.
“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.”
The decision leaves the Maroons on the hunt for a new coach again, having now lost Kevin Walters and Green in successive years.
QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher thanked Green for his services and said he understood his NRL ambitions.
The Maroons won the dead rubber third match of the 2021 series.(
Getty images: Bradley Kanaris
)
“We understand and respect Paul’s ambitions to return to NRL coaching at some point, and we wish him every bit of success in the future,” Hatcher said.
“In my opinion, Paul went through the most exceptional circumstances in the history of Origin, with issues around injuries, COVID-19 and player eligibility, and the way the team was able to finish off the series with one of the great Origin victories is testament to his leadership.”
ABC/AAP
Source:: ABC News
