Two Grand Final coaches headline a list of 12 potential targets to replace Michael Maguire as NSW Blues Origin coach after his release to join the Broncos.
NSW have in recent years been relcutant to use NRL coaches given the growing demands of the role, but Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary and Ricky Stuart would all be on their radar.
There are also a number of former NRL coaches and a mixture of former Blues coaches, players and NRL assistants that would be in he mix to replace Madge.
Read on for the potential candidates to be the next NSW coach.
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Madge confirmed as new Broncos coach | 02:35
CRAIG BELLAMY
The Storm coach has unfinished business as a NSW Origin coach having lost all three of his series in charge from 2008 to 2010 with just two wins from seven games.
However, that was mainly due to the dominance of Queensland’s team who won eight series in a row with many of the future Immortals Bellamy coached at the Storm.
Bellamy’s NRL record speaks for itself having won 402 of his 578 games for a win percentage of 69.55.
The question mark is whether the NSWRL are willing to use an NRL coach and whether Bellamy at his age and stage of his career wants to add more to his already busy schedule.
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IVAN CLEARY
The Panthers’ coach is preparing for his fifth straight grand final and is looking at his fourth straight premiership, so his NRL record speaks for itself.
The two-time Dally M coach of the year has won 256 of his 450 NRL games for a win percentage of 56.89 and has coached in six grand finals.
Cleary spent time in the NSW Blues camps over the last couple of seasons and with many of his Penrith players in the team, he would be the perfect fit.
However, like Bellamy it remains to be seen if the NSWRL will be willing to use an NRL coach, but they would be mad not to consider it. It would be a dramatic coup that could shift the landscape of State of Origin.
RICKY STUART
The former Blues coach was at the helm in 2005 when the Blues won the series on the back of Andrew Johns’ triumphant return and he also oversaw two series losses in 2011 and 2012.
The 51-year-old has coached 260 wins from 516 NRL games for a win percentage of 50.39 and has also coached Australia to 12 wins from 14 games from 2006 to 2008.
Stuart was responsible for bringing the passion back into the Blues jersey in his last stint and his record speaks for itself.
However, like Cleary and Bellamy his NRL commitments could be a roadblock to his potential return as Blues coach.
LAURIE DALEY
Another former Blues coach, Daley was at the helm for five years from 2013 to 2017, winning a drought breaking series in 2014 and winning six of his 15 games in charge of NSW.
The 54-year-old was one of the Blues’ greatest servants as a player and arguably one of their greatest captains and would command respect from the players.
Daley has recently coached the Indigenous All Stars from 2019 to 2022 and would be a leading candidate if the Blues decide to go back to the future.
BRAD ARTHUR
The former Eels coach was sacked by the club 10 games into the 2024 season, but has plenty of runs on the board as an NRL coach.
Arthur won 137 of his 264 games in charge of the Eels from 2012 to 2024 for a win percentage of 51.89 and is widely tipped to get a new NRL coaching gig in the future after taking the Eels to the 2023 Grand Final.
Coaching the Blues could be the perfect pathway for Arthur to emulate Maguire and get his name back in the mix to coach in the NRL.
PAUL MCGREGOR
The former Blues player has been an assistant to the NSW side in recent years and has the NRL coaching credentials to go with that experience.
McGregor coached 70 wins from 151 games at the helm of the Dragons from 2014 to 2020 and has been biding his time looking for another opportunity in the NRL.
His recent experience with the NSW playing group could work in his favour if the NSWRL miss out on some of their priority targets.
JOHN CARTWRIGHT
The former NSW player has plenty of NRL experience having most recently worked with the Broncos as an assistant in their charge to the 2023 Grand Final.
Cartwright was also head coach of the Titans from 2007 to 2014 winning 87 of his 192 games in charge of the Gold Coast for a win percentage of 45.31.
The 59-year-old bleeds blue having played eight games for his state and would instil the passion that the position demands.
TRENT BARRETT
The former Blues star played 11 games for NSW and was a part of three winning series as a player.
The 46-year-old has coached 38 wins from 121 NRL games for a win percentage of 31.40 at stints at Manly, the Bulldogs and most recently the Eels as Interim coach.
Barrett was set to join Kevin Walters’ coaching staff at the Broncos in 2024, but his future is unclear after Michael Maguire’s appointment, so he would be an excellent candidate for the Blues job.
MICHAEL ENNIS
The former Blues hooker played eight Origins for NSW from 2009 to 2015 and would love the chance to win a series as a coach as it eluded him as a player.
Ennis is currently the assistant coach at Manly and has also had stints at the Raiders and the Eels and is highly regarded throughout the game.
The 40-year-old is busy with his media commitments with Fox League, but coaching Origin could be an itch he wants to scratch at some point in the future.
NATHAN BROWN
Nathan Brown is a proud New South Welshman, who didn’t get the chance to play Origin during his career, so a shot at coaching them would be a tough opportunity to pass up.
Brown has plenty of NRL experience having coached 116 wins from 282 games for a win percentage of 41.13 over stints at the Dragons, the Knights and the Warriors.
The 51-year-old has recently coached the Eels in the NRLW and would be an experienced option if NSW miss out on a few other targets.
PHIL GOULD
It is a long shot of course with Gould busy trying to rebuild the Bulldogs into a premiership force, but he is the Blues’ greatest ever coach.
The 66-year-old has coached 14 wins from 24 Origins and has the most series wins as Blues coach.
However, Gould hasn’t coached NSW in over 20 years and the Blues would have to miss out on a lot of targets, before they gave him a call.
MATTY AND JOEY JOHNS
They may be involved in one of the most well publicised feuds in rugby league, but recent reports suggest they have buried the hatchet.
Matty and Andrew Johns have the experience of playing for NSW as players and have both been in and around the NSW team as assistants.
Both pledged to coach Samoa for free a couple of years back and while they are busy with their media commitments, they both have a burning desire to beat Queensland and have the passion the role demands.
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