Andrew Johns has reportedly shut down calls for him to take over Laurie Daley as NSW’s State of Origin coach.
Matty Johns got many footy fans excited on Sunday when he said he would help NSW out if Andrew came on board to coach the Blues.
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After making an impassioned speech about how NSW can win the Origin decider in Brisbane, Matty Johns was asked if he would be interested coaching the Blues next year.
“Absolutely not,” he replied. “If Joey (Andrew Johns) does it, I’ll help Joey out. That’s it.”
While Andrew Johns has helped out in NSW camp previously under Brad Fittler, it would be a huge move for the Eighth Immortal to step up as head coach, and it seems it’s not something he is interested in.
“I just got off the phone to Joey – no, not happening,” reporter Andrew Webster revealed on 2GB’s Continuous Call Team Daily podcast on Monday.
“This does not surprise me at all, this happens every year.
“His name continually gets linked to it, but Joey’s not a head coach.
“There is great value in having him on the coaching staff.
“His expertise and passion is something NSW should get involved … but he has no appetite to coach the Blues.”
NSW is desperate for Johns to impart some magic dust on the Blues after an underwhelming showing in Game 2 that put Queensland in the box seat to wrap up the series at home in Game 3.
NSW’s selections and specifically the use of the interchange bench came under heavy criticism, ramping up pressure on coach Laurie Daley.
Daley is yet to publicly make a call on whether he wants to stay on as NSW coach, but it’s likely he won’t want to extend his contract when it expires at the end of this campaign.
“I don’t think anyone assumes he’ll be there next year,” the Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said on NRL 360 on Monday.
“We all think Laurie’e going to walk away at the end of this series regardless of the result. That’s the way it’s been heading for a while now.”
But the Blues face a dilemma over who to appoint coach next year before likely appointing Ivan Cleary as NSW coach in 2028.
The Panthers coach has expressed an interest in coaching at representative level once he finishes up at Penrith at the end of 2027.
The main contenders at this stage to take over from Daley next year are Blues assistants Matt King and Boyd Cordner.
Originally published as Andrew Johns responds to brother Matty’s call to coach NSW Blues