Voss throws ultimatum towards NSWRL

BY CHARLES GOOD SIR/SEN

SEN’s Andrew Voss has called on the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) board to finalise the candidate for coach of the Blues ahead of the 2025 State of Origin series.

The NRL announced the dates of the three fixtures for next season with Game I to be held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 28. Optus Stadium in Perth will host Game II on 18 June before the series concludes in Sydney on July 9.

The NSWRL have failed to appoint Michael Maguire’s successor and Voss believes it should be top of the priority list ahead of the NRL season opener in March.

“Is it the first time in history that we break the dates for the next State of Origin series and we don’t actually know who the (NSW) coach is?” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“NSW doesn’t have a coach. When are we going to get there?

“Time goes by very quickly. In the past, we have had emerging Blues camps over the summer. The nucleus of the squad gets together over the summer.

“I just feel that the coach has to be announced by the end of this month. I don’t think we can go into next year without an Origin coach. It needs to be decided in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s an important position and it’s just been allowed to sit there vacant.

“The next two weeks, whoever is in charge, get in a room and don’t come out until you have found a coach.”

There is no overwhelming candidate to assume the position.

Legendary rugby league personality Phil Gould has suggested a head coach in the NRL assumes the role on a part-time basis.

Despite overwhelming public support against Voss, he remains adamant that former Manly and Bulldogs head coach Trent Barrett is the best candidate for the Blues job.

“I disagree with Gus (Gould) in getting an NRL coach to do the job,” Voss added.

“That rules out Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary or Ricky Stuart man.

“I’m in the Trent Barrett camp and I got shot down for that a lot when I said it last week.

“Mal Meninga as a first grade coach didn’t exactly deliver the promised land to the Canberra Raiders.

“If you go along to training, Trent Barrett is loved by the players. I can’t explain the win/loss record but I think he has all the qualifications to coach a representative team.

“I don’t think I can come up with a better candidate than him right now.”

Barrett has a win percentage of 31 per cent as a head coach.