QLD win may not save coach according to former Maroon

Written by on 12 July 2021

Former Queensland Origin player Scott Sattler does not believe a Maroons win will be enough to save coach Paul Green’s job next year.

The Maroons head into the final Origin game with the series already lost and disruptions in each of the camps leading to a disastrous campaign.

“There will be a lot of questions about what has happened in the last seven months between November last year and June this year.

“Different camp, different coaching techniques and I don’t think they’ve really responded,” Sattler said on Alive 90.5FM.

Green signed a one-year deal to coach the side following the Maroons victory last year under Wayne Bennett, but the side is now 2-0 down and has a raft of off-field issues.

Paul Green’s contract ends after the State of Origin series with the Queensland Rugby League to review the campaign and determine next year’s coach.

The NSW Blues have won the first two games by a combined 76-6 in the first two game of the series.

Sattler did acknowledge the Maroons are facing a Blues side in its prime and could be hard to topple in years to come.

“We are going into an era where Queensland are going to find it very hard to win an Origin series.

“It’s an interesting time at the moment when NSW can possibly dominate.”

Queensland is fielding its strongest team in game three according to Sattler, but he feels the biggest criticism of Paul Green is coming from how he handles off-field issues.

“As part of the review they will look at the entire series, the camps, coaching techniques, response of the players and most importantly what happened with Jai Arrow and this biosecurity breach.”

Queensland player Jai Arrow was sent home from the Origin camp after he brought a female outside the biosecurity bubble into the team hotel.

Arrow was fined $35,000 and suspended for two matches.

“Yes, he (Jai Arrow) is an adult and should take ownership of it, make the right decision for himself but what was it operationally or in the camp that allowed a player to step outside the camp.”

Jai Arrow has played 10 Origins for the Maroons but his latest error in judgement could have put the NRL and the game’s showpiece at risk.

Sattler believes, despite this incident, Arrow will suit up for Queensland again.

“He is an integral part of the Queensland side, we will definitely see him play again, he is too good a player not to.

“They will really question in 2022 the legitimacy of him being selected.

“He owned that decision and that is the way you fight back from it, Sattler said.”

Sattler says the Maroons are entering a period of transition as they unearth the next generation of young Queensland stars into the side.

“I know there is Sam Walker, Reece Walsh and some of your young forwards coming through like Helium Luki from the Cowboys.

“The depth is there for Queensland; it is just having them all available at once.

“I think it will look significantly different in some areas next year and then it is who coaches and who gets them to respond, Sattler said.

Asked who could be Green’s successor, Sattler named three men etched in Queensland Origin folklore.

“I still see Wayne Bennett, I still see Mal Meninga but I actually see Billy Slater coaching in 2022 if they don’t decide to go ahead with Paul Green.

The Maroons play the NSW Blues in State of Origin III on Wednesday July 14 at Robina Stadium in the Gold Coast.

Queensland will be looking to avoid their first series whitewash since 2000.


Current track

Title

Artist