Having engineered Queensland’s eight consecutive wins in the State of Origin series, Kangaroos’ coach Mal Meninga has now voiced his endorsement for Michael Maguire, who’s believed to be in contention for the now vacant Blues coaching position, a prospect projected for the year 2024.
Following Brad Fittler’s decision to step aside as NSW coach, the stage is set for Maguire to take over the reins, a surprising prospect given his current roles as the head coach of the Kiwis and an assistant with the Raiders. Although official confirmation is not yet available, the appointment for the NSW coaching job is expected to materialize once Maguire completes his ongoing commitments with New Zealand at the Pacific Championships final in Hamilton.
“If he is selected, he will be an excellent choice as he has proven himself to be an exceptional representative coach,” said Meninga. “He has the ability to extract the best from his players, but, ultimately, the decision isn’t mine.”
Meninga, having pioneered success for both Queensland and Australia, points out that while numerous club coaches have found difficulties in the State of Origin arena, passion differentiates representative coaches from the rest.
“It’s passion that guides you,” he explains. “Having played the first ever Origin game, the enormity of the event seismically shifted the game of interstate footy. This level of passion extends to the international program as well, especially in the Pacific region. If this passion can be captured and intertwined with international football, our goal to measure up to the Origin becomes realizable. It’s a dream I nurture and anticipate with hope.”
Dylan Edwards, another hopeful for the Blues jersey, also received Meninga’s endorsement on Friday morning following his impressive performance in green and gold. The Panthers’ fullback has been signposted as a potential successor to James Tedesco’s throne post-retirement, considering his robust start to his representative career with Australia.
“He’s earned his place,” stated Meninga, in the context of the Blues team brimming with potential wing candidates such as Brian To’o and Josh Addo-Carr. “He’s been relegated to the fringe due to James Tedesco’s presence, whose contributions to the game commands respect. However, considering his performances in the NRL in recent years, he’s earned the right to play representative football.”
In the Pacific Championship’s final, Edwards positions again as a winger, after scoring his debut international try in Australia’s 36-18 victory versus New Zealand last week.
The game in Hamilton is forecasted to be a thrilling, heady slog with the Kangaroos at full capacity following Patrick Carrigan’s recovery from a severe cork. While the Australians have been favored to extend their winning spree over the Kiwis, Meninga is predicting a more fiercely contested match across the ditch.
“There’s an edge to their game, fueled by revenge,” he predicts. “Experiencing it firsthand is addictive, giving them a potent drive to dominate the game. We must be prepared to nullify this. Given that ‘Madge’ is an exceptional coach, I’m certain they will be well prepared and raring to go. We need to ensure we are ready for what awaits.”
