Written by Oliver Kellner-Dunk
Throughout the 2021 State of Origin series, Queensland coach Paul Green has received plenty of criticism as the Maroons fell to a two to one series defeat, with an overall aggregate score of 94 to 26 that went New South Wales’ way.
However, if a recent statement from The Australian’s Brent Read is to be believed, Green will not only keep his job as Queensland Maroons Head Coach in 2022 but will receive more power and a pay rise to boot.
“I suspect they’re leaning towards Paul Green staying and if that is to happen, Paul Green will actually have his power widened and expanded. He’ll actually get rewarded more for that, he’ll get a pay rise out of it,” said Read on Triple M Radio yesterday.
Further backing from the higher-ups of the QRL may be exactly what Green needs, as after this year’s series his confidence would have to be severely low.
Green is a good coach, having led the North Queensland Cowboys to four straight finals series, two Grand Finals and a premiership in 2015 during his time at the helm, with his exit from the club coming not necessarily due to a poor effort as a coach, but simply because it was time for the Cowboys to look in a new direction as they began to rebuild their roster.
Although, at State of Origin level you do not need to be a good coach in the traditional sense to have a successful tenure.
By the time an NRL player is applying their trade at Origin level they are in no need of a coach, but a motivator, most definitely.
Nothing inspires a world-class talent to live up to their potential on the biggest stage more than an imposing figure being confident in their ability.
Two examples of this are current Australian Head Coach Mal Meninga and current New South Wales Head Coach Brad Fittler, as both were quite poor during their short stints as coaches in the NRL, but have gone on to great success in the Origin arena.
Very few coaches can experience success at both the NRL and State of Origin level, as a tactical genius generally finds it hard to know when it’s time to put the playbook aside and focus on the intangibles, and a motivator can only keep encouraging players for so long before a practical plan must come into play.
With further backing and a second chance given to Paul Green, the question is now can he find that balance between coach and motivator?
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