NRL fans react after Allana Ferguson backs Greg Inglis to land vacant coaching job
Norris was Queensland coach for five years, winning the first-ever three-match series in the women's event in 2024. She won the women's shield in 2021 and 2023, but lost in 2022 and 2025. NSW won this year's series 2-1, but overall she claimed three of the five series as coach.
The NRL Hall of Famer dropped somewhat of a bombshell last week when she stepped down from the role, describing it as an "absolute privilege" to coach Queensland. The Maroons might not have to look far for Norris' replacement, with assistant coaches Dave Elliott and Meg Ward both held in high regard by the Queensland Rugby League.
And Inglis is also an option after working on Norris' staff for the past two years. The Melbourne Storm and South Sydney legend played 32 Origin games for Queensland, and has transitioned into coaching in the women's game.
The 38-year-old worked as an assistant under Norris in 2024, and was also a support staffer in 2025. This year he joined the Wests Tigers as a specialist mentor for the NRLW team's outside backs.
Allana Ferguson and Mahalia Murphy back Greg Inglis
Speaking on Channel 9 on Saturday, NRLW great Ferguson said Inglis would be her choice to succeed Norris. The former NSW and Jillaroos player said she would "love to see" GI as the Maroons coach.
"There are some exciting names that have been thrown into the mix," she said. "He is a legend of the game, but also what I truly believe is so important in the women's game is someone who genuinely cares. Greg Inglis is someone who has cared about the women's game for a very long time, before it was front and centre and had this media attraction. I think it would be a great appointment and a strong candidate for Queensland."
Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who works with Inglis at the Goanna Academy, also supported the idea. "He would be great," Murphy said. "He has so much knowledge and experience. He is so passionate and cares about the game. He is one of my favourite people and I've always looked up to him."
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Women's legend Ruan Sims floated Dragons NRLW coach Nathan Cross as another option. "I've got definite interest in it, I've had a few players reach out which is nice," Cross said on Saturday. "I've got a good relationship with people there, I was with QRL for a while. I've coached 90 percent of the girls except for the new ones who came in this year. I'm not totally sure what QRL will do."
Ward is a former Maroons and Jillaroos player on the rise in the coaching world, mentoring the Norths Devils women's team that plays in the statewide competition. Last year Elliott coached the Norths Devils men's side to premiership success in the Queensland Cup and then in the NRL State Championship final.
Crucially, Maroons legend and QRL board member Cooper Cronk is believed to be on the panel that will select the next women's coach. Cronk and Inglis won premierships at the Melbourne Storm together, and both represented Queensland during their historic run of eight-straight series victories. On social media, NRL fans agreed they'd love to see Inglis leading his state.
with AAP
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