Part of me would love to coach NSW. But it would be selfish and wrong

There’s a small part of me that would absolutely love to coach NSW.

The suggestion has gathered momentum since my dear brother Matthew made mention of it, for reasons unknown.

Frankly though, it would be incredibly selfish for me to pursue, because it’s such an unknown.

And really, do NSW want to take a punt on someone with such limited experience, who has no experience at all of what it’s like to be a head coach?

The pressure I felt as a player, that’s easy in comparison to coaching. Under the extreme pressure and focus of coaching the state, would I be clear and calm enough to make the right calls?

I’ve never coached before. I’ve never had any ambition to coach. And I haven’t suddenly been struck by a burning desire to do it either, which I think you need.

The knock on Laurie Daley since he returned to coach the Blues has been around a lack of experience since set restarts came in and changed the game so much. NSW’s use of the six-man bench has also come under the microscope.

I have no idea how to manage an interchange bench. Critics say you can just put people from club land in around you to handle that. But Laurie’s had Matt King and Brett White, who are experienced NRL assistants, alongside him and, again, I wonder if even they have a true comprehension of the pressure on the head coach, because they’re yet to do it themselves.

Then there’s the Origin week and build-up to three of the biggest games in these players’ lives. It’s a beast.

And I don’t understand sports science – the training loads, how much running they can do, how you structure a 10-day camp with training sessions – and then there’s all the media commitments. I’d have no idea.

Now this will make people laugh, but the thought of managing 20 players and a dozen staff, that terrifies me. Sometimes I struggle to manage my own life, let alone 35 other people.

Another big consideration for me is my role with Channel Nine, and this column for the Sydney Morning Herald, where my job is to call it how I see it, without an agenda.

I like to think in the past couple of years I’ve shot pretty straight, and will always try to do that. But if you’re coaching Origin, personally I’d feel things getting incredibly murky if I know I’ve got players in NSW contention who aren’t in great form.

I’ve always felt for Billy Slater and Brad Fittler when I’ve put them on the spot about selections live on TV, and they’ve had to duck and weave like politicians. Because what else can you do in that situation?

I am passionate about NSW and bleed blue, but I don’t know how that helps the team or individuals.

The Blues coaching role needs someone who brings NRL head coaching experience, and knows what Origin is about. For me, at the moment, that man is Trent Barrett.

He didn’t have great success at Manly or Canterbury when he took charge, but both clubs were really struggling at the time and were a political nightmare. And when “Baz” took charge at Parramatta, well, they had sacked Brad Arthur and were always in for a tough year.

But he ran Brisbane’s attack last year when they stormed to a breakthrough premiership, and did the same at Penrith in 2020 as they started building their dynasty.

As for Laurie and the Blues when they head up to Suncorp for the decider, I have complete faith they can bring home the shield.

It’s obviously as big a challenge as you can face as a NSW player. But as a team and individuals, these are the moments you chase in your career. This is your chance to build a legacy in 80 minutes.

And Loz is in the top three Blues players I ever had the pleasure of running out with. Especially when I was young and learning what it took to play in the Origin arena, he and Freddie were the two players I looked to most.

Loz’s most famous Origin moment is that iconic try at Lang Park in 1994. Two left-foot steps and Loz was past Allan Langer, Andrew Gee and Billy Moore to crash over right next to the XXXX post padding.

The moment that really stands out to me, alongside that famous four-pointer, is from the 1996 series. We won that year 3-0 with the same 17 for every match, but very early on in game two, Gee made a beeline for me in defence.

I was biting down on my mouthguard, as you do when one of the game’s best front-rowers decides he wants to run you over. But he never got near me, because Laurie shot in and rocked him with a shoulder charge on a much bigger man – the type of hit that lifts you as a teammate.

Thirty years later, it’s time for the entire state to follow Laurie Daley into battle again.

Sorry Rabbitohs, your race has been run

Unfortunately for Bunnies fans, I’ve got your side just missing out on the finals for the fourth straight season.

Losing Latrell Mitchell for another month is obviously a huge blow, on top of a host of other injuries.

They’ve already lost Latrell and Jack Wighton for large portions of the year, while Campbell Graham is also gone for the next month with a calf injury and Sean Keppie won’t be back until the last few rounds of 2026.

The other issue for the Rabbitohs is they’re the first team to have had all their byes. Those weeks off are like gold in the back half of a season when you’re busted and carrying niggling injuries, but Souths are the only team to play 11 weeks straight from here.

Souths sit atop a cluster of teams, including the Sharks, Cowboys, Tigers and Storm, all around the edge of the top eight.

Melbourne and North Queensland have two byes left this year and for mine, I think they’ve both got very favourable draws to come home with.

The Storm especially I can see pushing into that seventh or eighth spot, and I think they’ll tip the Rabbitohs out.

It might seem strange given it’s round 17, but I see Thursday night’s clash against Parramatta as a must-win game for Souths – because their ladder position and draw mean they have to win all the matches they’re expected to win and the tight contests, too.

Predictions of rain throughout the day in Sydney point to a close affair and Parramatta being a real chance with Mitchell Moses’ kicking game.

Recent form has me tipping an upset, too. Before last week’s bye, the Eels beat Canberra, lost to the Bulldogs by two points and pushed Newcastle in Newcastle.

The Rabbitohs may have belted Brisbane without their Origin stars, but before that, they went down to Manly and were thumped by the Cowboys and Dolphins.

If Parramatta can nullify Cody Walker and starve him of field position to attack from, the Eels will win.

Joey’s tip: Eels by six
First try-scorer: Kitione Kautoga
Man of the match: Mitchell Moses

Walker’s on

Then we’re up to Brisbane on Friday night, with the Roosters on a five-day turnaround and the Broncos coming off the bye.

But the devil in the detail here is Brisbane’s long injury list – headlined by star halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam – while the Roosters have their bye coming up, so they will know they can empty the tank and get an extended break.

Sam Walker will be coming home, too, against his junior club with plenty of family and friends in the stands and with his confidence sky-high off his excellent Origin performances.

With all due respect to the Titans and Dragons, the fact Brisbane lost to the 16th and 17th placed teams at home, before being smashed up by Souths, shows just how far the premiers have fallen.

Joey’s tip: Roosters by 14
First try-scorer: Billy Smith
Man of the match: Sam Walker

Big men stepping up for Newcastle

And Sunday’s 4pm trip to Newcastle should be a cracker and must-watch for fans of attacking footy. I think it will take 30 points to win it.

The Knights have thrown the ball around all year, while the Tigers’ past two games have produced 64 points (a win over the Titans) and 58 points (last Saturday’s loss to the Dolphins).

Newcastle welcome back Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Lucas to a left edge where Bradman Best has also returned from injury. This is their strike zone.

I’ve been really impressed with the Knights’ front-rowers, too. Jacob Saifiti is in career-best form and people at the club have put that down to a massive off-season where he was finally injury-free and not coming off surgery.

Trey Mooney has been a great addition alongside him – he’s got a bit of mongrel and alpha male about him, and he looks right at home in the middle. I’m tipping a huge Sunday afternoon crowd to bring the Knights home.

Joey’s tip: Knights by 10
First try-scorer: Greg Marzhew
Man of the match: Kalyn Ponga