Queensland Maroons' Coaching Search Faces Major Hurdles

The Queensland Maroons are facing a significant challenge in their search for a new State of Origin coach after both Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters opted out of contention.

Cameron Smith, once considered the frontrunner for the role, announced his decision to withdraw on Monday night. Although he received strong endorsements from Queensland captain Cameron Munster and legendary coach Wayne Bennett, Smith stated that he could not commit to the head coaching position at this time. "I couldn’t fully commit to the role and at the time that was an assistant coach, not head coach," he explained on Nine’s 100% Footy.

Following closely, Kevin Walters also confirmed he would not return to the Maroons, choosing to honor his contract as the head coach of the Kangaroos. Walters previously led Queensland to two series victories between 2016 and 2019, making his absence felt in this coaching search.

With these two high-profile withdrawals, the Maroons now turn their attention to other candidates. Matt Ballin and Ben Te’o, both former assistants to Billy Slater, have emerged as the leading options. Ballin, who played for the Maroons in 2010, has been with the team since 2021, while Te’o has a wealth of experience, including a role in Brisbane’s recent success.

Other potential candidates include Anthony Seibold and Josh Hannay, although the latter may face difficulties balancing commitments with the Gold Coast Titans.

Source: www.abc.net.au