Latest news with #JoshHannay
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Billy Slater concedes second Origin winner is unlikely to return for Maroons in 2026
Queensland coach Billy Slater admits he might need a new assistant coach for their State of Origin defence in 2026, with Josh Hannay strongly tipped to land an NRL head coaching role. With veteran prop Josh Papalii playing his 24th and final Origin game after coming out of rep retirement in the series-deciding Game 3 victory, Slater concedes it will be a new-look Queensland setup next year. Slater says he would be 'surprised' if Hannay was not in charge of an NRL club in 2026, with a number of current coaches in the firing line after poor seasons. Hannay has been strongly linked to the role at the Titans, amid reports veteran coach Des Hasler is on borrowed time on the Gold Coast. Hasler has a clause in his contract meaning the Titans can sack him now they are mathematically out of finals contention this season, following last weekend's loss to Brisbane. The veteran coach wants to see out the final year of his contract in 2026 but there's a growing sense that Hasler won't be there next year and Hannay has emerged as a frontrunner for the job. Newcastle could also be on the lookout for a new coach, amid reports the club is set to part ways with Adam O'Brien at the end of the season after an underwhelming campaign for the Knights. And Todd Payten's coaching position is also under threat at the Cowboys, who have dropped out of the top-eight after five losses in their last six games to sit in 12th spot on the ladder. North Queensland made the second week of the finals in 2024 but have struggled for consistency under Payten since he took over in 2021. Hannay - who is currently working under Craig Fitzgibbon at Cronulla - previous worked as an assistant at the Cowboys and played 150 games for the club, and would be a popular choice to succeed Payten if North Queensland decided to change coaches. RELATED: Roosters playmaker tipped to exit after being overlooked for veteran Fury over Panthers star's ban after Parra rival cops season-ending injury Knights offer contracts to two State of Origin players amid Ponga blow But with uncertainty around the future of at least three NRL head coaches, and Hannay emerging as one of the leading candidates to succeed them, Slater is convinced he will need to find a new assistant for Queensland in 2026. "I'd be surprised if he is involved in State of Origin next year, unfortunately for us," the Maroons coach told Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast. "He's been a real rock for me in terms of the last four years at State of Origin level, I have leant on him immensely. He really understands the game, he sees the game really well, he's got great philosophies. I'd be really surprised if he was involved in the Origin series next year, I was probably surprised that he was involved this year. "I think he's ready to be an NRL head coach, and I wish him all the best when that opportunity arises for him. I've got great respect for Josh, I've got great appreciation for what he's done for myself and this footy team over the last four years... even before that, he was involved before I was the head coach. He's definitely going to be a good NRL coach and I look forward to seeing which team he gets that opportunity with."
Daily Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Iconic Queensland State of Origin shield photo says it all
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. There has been a mountain of evidence that Queensland just get Origin, but now another photo has emerged. The Maroons secured a famous series victory on Wednesday night as they toppled NSW 24-12 at Accor Stadium in Sydney. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The victory came after the Blues took the points in Game 1 before an arm wrestle ensued in Game 2. With the series up for grabs, it was one-way traffic as the Maroons dominated their south of the border rivals in the decider. It was yet another case that Queensland just understand what it takes to get the job done on the Origin stage. In rubbing further salt into the wounds, an image of assistant coach Josh Hannay proved just how much it truly meant to them. The instrumental figure in the coaching ranks was snapped in the early hours on Thursday morning laying in bed alongside the iconic Origin shield. Maroons assistant coach Josh Hannay sleeping with the Origin shield. Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay at Maroons training. Photo: NRL Imagery As Queensland players soaked up the victory, NSW players were left licking their wounds with legendary NSW coach Phil Gould sticking the boots in after the contest. 'In Origin, it's a three-game series and you anticipate you'd improve from game to game, and you want your peak to be in the third game — Queensland did that,' Gould said. 'They weren't that great in Game 1, they got better in game two and they were terrific in Game 3. 'NSW were probably the other way around — they were good in Game 1, not so good in Game 2 and terrible tonight. 'It was the perfect exhibition of Origin football. Origin is different to club football and it looked like an Origin side playing against a club side. It looked like a really connected group of blokes with that Origin spirit up against the team of individuals, I can't explain it any other way than that.' Nathan Cleary failed to fire yet again in a State of Origin decider. (Photo by) Gould blasted the Blues players for not rising to the level required for Origin. Picture: NRL Imagery / Scott Davis Gould said it was Queensland's pressure and completion rate that was the difference, he pinpointed that NSW had no kick pressure and allowed the Maroons to 'back them up towards their own line'. 'It just looked like Queensland had a plan and NSW were disrupted by it became a rabble in attack and defence and couldn't recover,' Gould said. 'It was a consummate Origin performance. NSW extremely, extremely disappointing.' Gould then teed off again, this time taking to social media to lament another series loss by the Blues. 'Queensland too good. The perfect Origin performance,' Gould wrote. 'Got better each game and peaked when it mattered in Game III. 'NSW got worse the further the series went. That's a concern. They will be very disappointed. Nothing else to say, other than well done to the Maroons. They deserved the series win.' Originally published as Iconic Queensland State of Origin shield photo says it all after win
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Iconic Queensland State of Origin shield photo says it all after win
There has been a mountain of evidence that Queensland just get Origin, but now another photo has emerged. The Maroons secured a famous series victory on Wednesday night as they toppled NSW 24-12 at Accor Stadium in Sydney. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The victory came after the Blues took the points in Game 1 before an arm wrestle ensued in Game 2. With the series up for grabs, it was one-way traffic as the Maroons dominated their south of the border rivals in the decider. It was yet another case that Queensland just understand what it takes to get the job done on the Origin stage. In rubbing further salt into the wounds, an image of assistant coach Josh Hannay proved just how much it truly meant to them. The instrumental figure in the coaching ranks was snapped in the early hours on Thursday morning laying in bed alongside the iconic Origin shield. As Queensland players soaked up the victory, NSW players were left licking their wounds with legendary NSW coach Phil Gould sticking the boots in after the contest. 'In Origin, it's a three-game series and you anticipate you'd improve from game to game, and you want your peak to be in the third game — Queensland did that,' Gould said. 'They weren't that great in Game 1, they got better in game two and they were terrific in Game 3. 'NSW were probably the other way around — they were good in Game 1, not so good in Game 2 and terrible tonight. 'It was the perfect exhibition of Origin football. Origin is different to club football and it looked like an Origin side playing against a club side. It looked like a really connected group of blokes with that Origin spirit up against the team of individuals, I can't explain it any other way than that.' Gould said it was Queensland's pressure and completion rate that was the difference, he pinpointed that NSW had no kick pressure and allowed the Maroons to 'back them up towards their own line'. 'It just looked like Queensland had a plan and NSW were disrupted by it became a rabble in attack and defence and couldn't recover,' Gould said. 'It was a consummate Origin performance. NSW extremely, extremely disappointing.' Gould then teed off again, this time taking to social media to lament another series loss by the Blues. 'Queensland too good. The perfect Origin performance,' Gould wrote. 'Got better each game and peaked when it mattered in Game III. 'NSW got worse the further the series went. That's a concern. They will be very disappointed. Nothing else to say, other than well done to the Maroons. They deserved the series win.'
